MD to watch abortion clinics more closely
Abortion clinics in Maryland will have to apply for a state license, provide a 24-hour hotline for patients, show that they have qualified anesthesia providers and develop emergency plans should procedures go awry according to new draft regulations the state's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released Friday.
Clinics failing to comply would face a $1,000 penalty -- or have their license revoked. The department is seeking public comment on the regulations until mid-August.
In a statement, the health department said the draft regs "reflect the right balance of preserving both safety and access."
The regulations were issued in response to a high-profile incident last fall when a woman was critically injured at an Elkton clinic run by Steven C. Brigham, a man who did not have a license to practice medicine in Maryland. His unorthodox approach involved initiating abortions in New Jersey and instructing patients to drive to Maryland where he completed the surgery.
Both sides are expected to comment on the draft rules.
In drafting the regulations, Maryland's health department researched other times when abortions have gone awry. They found that in the past 20 years the five doctors have been disciplined for harming patients. Three of the 5 incidents stemmed from poor administration of anesthesia.
Comments
There goes the psychotic Tea bag folks again blaming the U.S. credit rating drop on Obama. They need to look in the mirror and they will see where the problem lies. I hope the American people wake up and see what these folks are prepared to do to this great country just to have things their way. God help us all if we don't vote them all out of office in 2012!!!
Posted by: Mary Hickle | August 5, 2011 11:41 PM