Activists on both sides of the abortion debate are rallying their troops for a Virginia Board of Health meeting next week that could determine the future of many of the state’s 20 abortion clinics.
Abortion-rights advocates packed the board’s meeting in June and cheered when the board stripped from the proposed regulations a hotly contested provision requiring all clinics to meet the same strict architectural standards as newly constructed hospitals. They claimed the provision would require costly renovations that would force most clinics to close.
The following month, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli refused to certify the regulations. Cuccinelli said the board overstepped its authority because legislation passed by the General Assembly requiring the licensure and regulation of abortion clinics specifically mandated the strict building standards.
Now the regulations are back before the board for reconsideration Friday, and abortion-rights supporters plan to once again turn out in force to urge the board to reject Cuccinelli’s position and reapprove the waiver for existing clinics. This time, the conservative Family Foundation of Virginia also is encouraging abortion opponents to make a strong showing.
The Pro-choice folks are beginning to feel like Charlie Brown every time Lucy snatches the football away. Every win gets snatched away by some arbitrary rule that wasn’t in place a few minutes before hand. The Virginia Board of Health ruled that existing clinics did not have to go through the shinannigans required for new clinics. The Governor had left the implementation up to them.
They submitted their report only to have Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli refuse to certify their ruling on the matter. So it is back to the drawing board….again. This refusal to certify is negating the governor’s directive. Cucinnelli is legislating from his office.
We all know that the clinic rules won’t make abortion safer. It is just another way to throw up a hurdle for a legal procedure. Meanwhile oral surgery, foot surgery, colonoscopies and other types of surgeries far more invasive than the abortion procedure comtinue to be unregulated.
Virginians have a tremendous incentive to vote these tyrants out of office. Those who want government out of everyones business want it in every woman in Virginia’s bedroom. Way to go, republicans.
What is the control of the Board if Cookinelli is refusing to certify their recommendation!
Oral Surgery is more invasive than abortion? Jesus, who’s your dentist? When he say’s “you’re going to feel a little prick in your mouth”, you know that’s a needle, right?
Quite the funny guy, eh? I am going to resist a come back to your question about my dentist.
Its really my oral surgeon
There are all sorts of outpatient procedures that are performed.
Ya know, a bit off-topic but I hate that outpatient surgery really exists. Every time I’ve had it or my daughter has had it we end up in the ER within a day for fever or whatever. In her case, 2 trips after tonsils were removed.
On-topic: I guess I really don’t understand the process. What does the AG have to do with that rule-making process?
Andy, I am not sure why he can jump in and stop the process. I think the governor ought to grow a pair and order him to sign off on the certification.
I can’t imagine tonsils being removed outpatient. When I was a kid that was a hospital trip for at least 5 days. I tend to agree that too much is done outpatient.
Slow,
STOP it, right now! You will be sent to your room if you continue this naughty behavior……on a side note, that was EFFING hilarious.
Why is the govt even in the business of regulating the practice of medicine?? I say let me open up a OB/GY practice as an unregulated outpatient facility.
Why should the government regulate? I believe that it sets general standards and the specifics are left with the type of out patient service that is being given. In other words, the dentists have standards and the individual dentists conform to the standards of their industry.
You can set up any kind of practice you want as long as your bring in properly licensed doctors who have passed the medical boards and adhere to general standards.
It is up to the professions to set up the professional standards.
You’ve missed the point if my question.
You argue that outpatient facilities should not be regulated in THIS instance because it conflicts with your belief system. You have no general issue with govt regulation of health and healthcare in general.
I argue – in for a penny in for a pound. If we assume and grant the govt to regulate the practice of medicine than getting mad that they passed a new regulation doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
So back to the original question. Do we regulate the practice of medicine? Should we? If so does the govt then have the power to regulate drive by abortion clinics in the name of public safety?
I thought I answered it. No. Why should government choose to over regulate one type of procedure and not the other? I don’t think they are regulating the practice of medicine. I believe they test people to determine that they have basic skills and that they have graduated from a medical school.
No, I havent said that the regulation shouldnt happen because it conflicts with my belief system. I am not going to fight this one from the beginning, other than to say that the reulations should have never been made in the first place and aren’t made on other types of medical procedufres that also do outpatient work.
I am saying that the board ruled a certain way and he refuses to certify their findings. The governor tasked them with the job of making the rules, not that isn’t good enough. He is crowned himself emperor of Virginia. He needs to be removed from power.