Advocates on both sides of the abortion debate are sounding off about new regulations set to take effect statewide. The new regulations will fundamentally change how abortion clinics operate, and are designed make abortion clinics look more like hospitals.
Anti-abortion advocates say it is all about keeping women safe, but people in favor of abortion rights say safety has little to do with it.
"Abortion is inherently unsafe," stated Christina Hampton of 40 Days For Life Charlottesville. That is why the anti-abortion advocate says new statewide regulations for clinics performing the procedure are badly needed.
"If you are for women's safety, then you would want to make sure these places where the procedures are being done are as safe as possible," Hampton explained.
The Virginia Department of Health released a draft of those regulations this weekend. This comes after the General Assembly passed a bill requiring the department to change its abortion clinic guidelines. Once approved, Virginia would join 22 other states that classify abortion clinics as hospitals. That could mean some facilities would have to spend money on retrofits, or risk shutting down.
But Delegate David Toscano (D) says it is a "political issue," and voted against it. "This is not about women's health and safety. It really is about an effort to try and shut down clinics around the state that provide abortion services," said Toscano.
He says concerns about women's safety are overblown. "While there are instances where people are hurt, those instances are few and far between," he said.
Hampton says even with these proposed guidelines, women dealing with an unplanned pregnancy should look at other options. "There is always the option of adoption. There are places in town you can put a child up and give that child life, but there's also the option to raise the child," said Hampton.
Health department board members are scheduled to meet September 15 to take a vote on these guidelines outlined in the draft. Following that vote, it is off to Governor Bob McDonnell for review, and if approved, the changes would take effect January 1.
