More Failed Inspections, More Reasons For Abortion Clinic Regulation

Jun 6, 2017 | 0 comments

Harrisburg abortion facility fails inspection, but they’re not the only one with 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.

This law continues to have immense implications in protecting women from poor-quality care, as inspections bring current violations of standard care in abortion facilities to light. Most recently is Hillcrest Women’s Medical Center, with its myriad of violations in its 2017 annual inspection; which include 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 has not had their license revoked due to the serious and continued inspection failures.

Philadelphia Women’s Center has failed their inspection in three of the last four years, most often dealing with improper administration of drugs and medications, as well as violating building and fire codes. Philadelphia Women’s Center is the single largest abortion mill in Pennsylvania, performing over 5,000 abortions every year.

Another recent offender is Planned Parenthood:

  • Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania: Their Pittsburgh location failed two inspections (2015, 2016) in reference to building code violation such as faulty operating fire alarm systems and unclean washing sanitizing facilities.
  • Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania: Their Warminster location failed inspection in 2016, revealing that the facility did not record patient’s weights when dispensing anesthetics and as such potentially put smaller patients’ lives in danger.
  • Planned Parenthood Keystone: Their Allentown location failed its inspection three years in a row (2013-2015) for numerous reasons including disposing aborted babies down sinks, using equipment with dried blood on it, and not evaluating patients prior to giving them anesthesia.

With each of these failed inspections, there are follow-up inspections and grace periods that allow the facility some time to comply with the law’s requirements, but they are closed if they do not comply. Thanks to Pennsylvania’s Health Care Facilities Act, abortion clinics and their lack of compliance are now clear to the public and the state in order to help prevent another Kermit Gosnell from harming women and families.