Women and their unborn babies are safer today

Jun 9, 2017 | 0 comments

“Unborn children are safer today. Harrisburg’s Hillcrest abortion store is closed. License revoked after blatantly failing health and safety inspection. THANK YOU to all those who helped us pass SB732/HB974 (2011-2012), which requires inspections of all abortion clinics, and that they meet the same health and safety standards of other outpatient facilities. Involved citizenship makes a difference, and saves lives.” – Michael Geer

On Wednesday, June 7, the Department of Health ordered the Hillcrest abortion clinic in Harrisburg to close after they failed another inspection (an unannounced visit) on Monday.

This inspection was after Hillcrest Women’s Medical Center, was still allowed to stay open after a myriad of violations in its 2017 annual inspection; which included not having an RN on staff, failing to complete Child Protective Services background checks, failing to throw out expired material, and failing to secure drugs appropriately.

This week, three state senators, President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Bob Mensch (R-24), and John DiSanto (R-15) sent a letter to the Department of Health asking why Hillcrest was still allowed to operate due to the serious and continued inspection failures.

It was a mere six years ago that Kermit Gosnell was arrested and charged with murder, along with violations of the PA Abortion Control Act, in connection with his West Philadelphia abortion facility. The horrors uncovered revealed a deep miscarriage of justice – no state inspections of surgical abortion centers for over fifteen years – allowing such facilities to bypass necessary patient protections required for other surgical facilities.

While Gosnell’s actions were a massive tragedy that created pain and suffering for women and children, the silver lining was the passage of stronger abortion-clinic regulations for Pennsylvania. Referred to as the “Health Care Facilities Act” and signed into law on December 22nd, 2011, this state law holds abortion centers to a proper standard of accountability similar to other surgical facilities. Such requirements include definitions of health standards, implementation of unannounced inspections, and stricter licensing qualifications. Three abortion clinics decided to close as a result of this law and two were forced into closing by the Department of Health – both connected to the infamous abortionist Steven Brigham.

Learn more about our involvement with the passing of SB732/HB574: https://pafamily.org/2014/07/shocked-into-action/