Topeka, KS – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has notified the remaining three abortion clinics in the state that they will be told by July 1, 2011, whether they will be granted licenses under a new law that would allow them to continue abortion services.
“We have doubts that any of the abortion clinics can meet the safety requirements of the new law,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “If they cannot comply, all three abortion clinics would be forced to cease abortion operations, making Kansas the first abortion-free state in the nation.”
The first inspections under a new law began on Wednesday morning at Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood, an Overland Park abortion clinic that is currently facing 107 criminal charges related to illegal late-term abortions. The initial inspection is said to be a two-day review. The other two abortion clinics will be inspected within the next few days.
According to the new state law, which was supported by Operation Rescue, clinics offering abortions must meet minimum safety standards before they can be licensed. If clinics fail to meet the new standards, they cannot legally do abortions. The Health Department has the authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a license, and has the authority to fine a clinic for violations and go into court to ask that a clinic be closed.
The new standards include having an emergency door that can accommodate a gurney. The lack of such a door contributed to the death of Karnamaya Monger in Pennsylvania after an abortion by the notorious Kermit Gosnell.
Other requirements include maintaining proper emergency equipment, drugs and protocols, having proper lighting and ventilation, lavatory areas, and spaces for the sterilization of surgical equipment. Clinics must also have a licensed nurse in the clinic when abortions are done. Operation Rescue has documented that it is a common practice for abortion clinics to employ under-trained, unqualified staff.
“If clinics cannot comply with these minimum safety standards, they are simply too dangerous to continue to operate. It is shocking that anyone would even question whether or not women deserve to be protected from shoddy and unsafe abortion practices,” said Newman. “We certainly believe there is no such thing as a ‘safe’ abortion clinic. Abortionists have the attitude that they are above the law and will likely not keep it, therefore the best way to protect women is to close the abortion clinics.”
