"It was brought to our attention that every health-care institution in the state is subject to unannounced inspections by [ADHS] if they have reasonable cause to believe something is going on inside, except for abortion clinics. We're almost saying we value the women that go into abortion clinics less than everyone else."For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
-- Josh Kredit, legal counsel for Center for Arizona Policy
New York Abortion Clinic Inspection Official Resigns
Illinois Abortion Clinics Passed without Inspections
75% of Maryland Abortion Clinics Fail Inspections
Woman Dies from Abortion in Maryland, Media Silent
Abortionist Kills Chicago Mother in Second Trimester
Kermit the Abortionist, in Prison for Infanticide
More Abortionists Admit Killing Kids After Birth
More Abortionists Linked to Murder Cases
Texas Yanks Abortionist's License for 268 Killed
UPDATE 6/18/14: Georgia Fugitive Abortionist Captured in Germany
Also read the myriad surprise abortion clinic "inspections" performed by pro-life activists caught on tape.
-- From "Arizona: Law Signed to Allow Surprise Inspections at Abortion Clinics" by Fernanda Santos, New York Times 4/15/14
The law, which passed Arizona’s Republican-led Senate last week on a partisan vote, subjects abortion clinics to the same inspection requirements applied to other medical facilities, to which warrantless inspections are the norm. Opponents argued that it invites harassment in a state hostile to abortions. . . .
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Arizona Approves Surprise Inspections of Abortion Clinics" by David Stout, Time Magazine 4/16/14
The new law nullifies previous measures that required judges to approve any potential inspection of the state’s nine registered abortion clinics.
“This legislation will ensure that the Arizona Department of Health Services has the authority to appropriately protect the health and safety of all patients,” said the Governor’s spokesman Andrew Wilder, according to Reuters.
Pro-choice advocates said the Republican Governor’s decision as part of her sustained attack on women’s health.
Arizona joins ten other states that allow for similar snap inspections of abortion facilities.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Bill signed allowing surprise inspections of Arizona abortion clinics" by David Schwartz, Reuters
Supporters of the bill argued that abortion clinics should be subject to the same level of oversight as other medical facilities and that requiring court-approved warrants for unannounced inspections could delay such scrutiny.
[Critics] cast the measure as open to abuse by officials with an anti-abortion agenda who might use increased latitude for inspections to interfere with clinic operations, effectively restraining legal access to abortion in the state.
"We're not surprised that Governor Brewer signed this bill," Bryan Howard, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, said in a statement. "She has been hostile to women's health care, including abortion and family planning, since the day she took office."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Brewer signs law permitting unannounced inspections of Arizona abortion clinics" by Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services (posted at Arizona Daily Star) 4/16/14
Backers of HB 2284 said there is no reason to exempt abortion clinics from the same regulations that apply to all other health-care facilities. Foes said the clinics need protection because there is a heightened need for privacy both for patients and staff.
In a 2004 ruling, a federal appeals court voided an identical provision, ruling the statute’s authorization of “boundless, warrantless search of physicians’ offices” by state health officials violates constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure.
But Cathi Herrod, president of the anti-abortion Center for Arizona Policy, which helped write the measure, said state regulatory policies have changed since then, legitimizing this version of the law.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Gov. Brewer signs bill on abortion-clinic inspections" by Alia Beard Rau, The Republic (azcentral.com ) 4/15/14
Currently, according to the ADHS, the state can conduct warrantless, unannounced inspections of many facilities it regulates, such as hospitals, dialysis centers, nursing homes and child-care centers. But due to a court ruling, abortion clinics are treated somewhat differently; the agency can conduct scheduled visits, but it must get a search warrant for any unannounced inspections — even in response to a complaint of wrongdoing.
Planned Parenthood and ACLU of Arizona have said they are still considering whether they will file a legal challenge of HB 2284, but they do believe it is unconstitutional.
After a woman bled to death at a Phoenix abortion clinic, the Legislature in 1999 passed a law establishing a licensing process for abortion clinics and allowing unannounced inspections. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2004 struck down parts of the law, including the inspections, saying it was too broad and would give the state unauthorized access to patient information.
In 2009, the two sides reached a settlement that gave the state more oversight of clinics but did not include unannounced inspections. Since then, the Legislature has passed dozens of additional regulations of abortion clinics, some of which have survived court challenges.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Abortion Clinic Closings Set Record; Admit Defeat as well as Abortionists Lament Ever-greater State Limits
In addition, read Federal Government Probes Planned Parenthood for Fraud
