A shocking new report has found hundreds of safety violations in the nation’s abortion clinics, including unlicensed practitioners, untrained staff, and unsanitary medical conditions which has prompted a call for immediate action on this public health crisis.
Following an examination of confirmed reports of dangerous abortion clinic conditions over the last 8 years, Americans United for Life (AUL) has released a ground-breaking investigative report entitled, “Unsafe: How The Public Health Crisis in America’s Abortion Clinics Endangers Women.”
The analysis details horrific abortion clinic conditions, documenting that 227 abortion providers in 32 states were cited for more than 1,400 health and safety deficiencies between 2008 and 2016 and details hundreds of significant violations of state laws regulating abortion clinics.
This past summer, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law requiring clinics that provide abortions to have surgical facilities and doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital – a decision that this report calls into serious question.
“The Supreme Court wrongly threw out Texas’ health and safety standards, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support the need for the law,” said Americans United for Life Vice President of Legal Affairs Denise Burke, the report’s author. “That perceived deficit must be addressed wherever and whenever possible, yet this void exists, in part, because of the scandalously lax manner in which many abortion clinics are monitored.”
She continued: “AUL took on the task of learning what information is available on abortion clinic conditions and what is not, as too few states protect women by appropriately regulating and inspecting abortion clinics. The fact that data from some states are not included in the report indicates the need for better and more regular inspections and reporting on the results of those inspections. . . .”
Denise Burke, AUL Vice President of Legal Affairs
To follow are the top ten violations cited in Unsafe:
1. Failure to ensure a safe and sanitary environment and to follow infection control policies: 130 clinics in 22 states
2. Failure to accurately document patient records and keep patient medical information confidential: 100 clinics in 17 states
3. Failure to ensure staff are properly trained for duties: 82 clinics in 14 states
4. Unlicensed/unqualified/untrained staff providing patient care: 81 clinics in 14 states
5. Expired medications and medical supplies: 77 clinics in 17 states
6. Failure to adopt, follow and/or periodically review internal health and safety protocols: 77 clinics in 15 states
7. Failure to purchase and maintain the required equipment: 74 clinics in 11 states
8. Failure to properly handle medications: 62 clinics in 16 states
9. Failure to comply with physical plant standards: 41 clinics in 6 states
10. Failure to monitor patient vital signs: 30 clinics in 10 states
The report also documents the women who were victimized by these substandard conditions as well as the dangers of the “circuit rider” abortionists who travel from clinic to clinic performing abortions, often leaving women suffering from post-abortion complications without the medical attention they need.
“The abortion industry willingly sacrifices women’s health and safety in their ‘back alley’ clinics, prioritizing mere access to abortion over women’s health and safety. Convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell provided ‘mere access’ to abortion, and women died in his care,” said Burke. “During the investigation of Gosnell and his ‘house of horrors’ abortion clinic, the grand jury found that, while there were laws on the books allowing for inspections, state officials decided not to act because of abortion politics. Women’s health and safety must not be held hostage by an abortion industry willing to put profit over people.”
She added: “This report is the tip of the iceberg as too many state officials are turning a blind eye to this red-light district of medicine. AUL is calling on state attorneys general and governors to order inspections of abortion clinics and on state legislators to enact the enhanced protections for women and their unborn children featured in AUL’s Women’s Protection Project and Infants’ Protection Project.”
AUL has deliberately released this report in advance of the 2017 state legislative session to give lawmakers an important tool for explaining the critical need for enhanced health and safety standards and to call for further investigation.
Click here to read the report and sign a petition asking state legislators to request immediate inspections of abortion clinics in their states.
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