After months of debate, the Virginia Board of Health voted 12-1 Thursday to approve abortion clinic regulations critics say may shut down clinics across the state.
The new regulations tighten providers' licensing and inspection requirements, threatening clinics which may not be able to afford to meet the new standards.
If approved by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Gov. Bob McDonnell, the emergency regulations will classify clinics which perform five or more first-trimester abortions as hospitals, holding clinics to building standards many facilities do not presently meet. Twenty-four clinics in Virginia currently offer first-trimester abortions.
The only board member who dissented was James Edmondson, who said the new regulations deal mainly with physical standards such as the width of hallways and equipment specifications.
"The regulations are not designed to safeguard women's health; they are designed to close down as many clinics as possible," Edmondson said, noting that the shutdown would close clinics which provide many services to women other than abortion.
Tarina Keene, executive director of NARAL pro-choice Virginia and former development director of Planned Parenthood in Southeastern Virginia, expressed similar sentiments. "What they're asking is absolutely ridiculous in terms of the appropriate type of facility needed to conduct safe first-trimester abortions," Keene said.
Proponents of the new proposals, however, say the regulations put in place will protect women.
"Without adequate regulations, there is simply no way for anyone to know what's happening inside these clinics," Chris Freund, vice president of the conservative Family Foundation, said during the debate, The Washington Post reported.
Chris Freund also said in a blog post that the new regulations require the doctor to remain on the premises until a woman is ready to be discharged following an abortion. The regulations also mandate "improved sanitary conditions, and emergency equipment for cardiac arrest, seizure, respiratory distress and other critical medical situations," Freund said.
Edmondson said the regulations do not improve women's health as proponents of the legislation say, but rather "puts it at greater risk," however.
"I think it is definitely a backdoor attempt to ban abortion care for women in Virginia," Keene said. "You can't say this is about health and safety - this is definitely a political and ideological move. The other side keeps saying it's a major pro life victory."
If approved, the regulations will go into effect Jan. 1, 2012, and will be effective for one year.
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