Pa. House Committee Passes Bill Requiring Abortion Clinics To Match Outpatient Surgery Center Safety Standards
April 13, 2011 — Pennsylvania's House Health Committee on Monday voted 19-4 to pass a bill that would require clinics providing abortion services to meet the same safety standards as outpatient surgery centers, the AP/Beaver County Times reports. The bill was written following allegations that a Philadelphia physician performed illegal abortions that resulted in the death of a patient and infants.
The Pennsylvania Family Council said the bill would install critical health and safety protections for women seeking care at clinics. However, the American Civil Liberties Union said Pennsylvania law already contains guidelines for abortion clinics regarding equipment, staff, emergency transfers to hospitals, counseling and reporting. ACLU said the bill would require costly changes at the clinics, which could force many of them to close. The group said, "This will particularly impact poor women and women who reside in rural areas" (AP/Beaver County Times, 4/11).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
