Since 2004, Planned Parenthood of Missouri has only had a handful of health inspections by government officials. The inspections found filthy conditions including rusty surgical tables, suction abortion machines, IV stands, and other equipment and “copious amounts of dust” everywhere. Other violations included poor or non-existent infection control protocols and expired, improperly handed drugs.
As LifeNews previously reported, in the last five years Planned Parenthood of St. Louis has botched 27 abortions.
Troy Newman, the Director of Operation Rescue said, “We consider the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in St. Louis to be among the most dangerous abortion facilities in the country. We are grateful to local citizens who have documented the long list of medical emergencies there so that the public can be made aware of the truth about the dangers of Planned Parenthood’s shoddy practices that routinely endanger the lives of women.”
Thankfully, Planned Parenthood is Missouri’s only abortion facility and new pro-life bills before their legislature, if passed, would increase mandatory inspections. The legislation, House bills 190 and 427, will require annual inspections of abortion facilities in Missouri. The sponsor of the bill, Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau), is a former registered nurse and said that her bill is about accountability as a state and providing quality health care. She also said that her legislation would ensure that proper protocols are followed.
However, Planned Parenthood isn’t too happy about the proposed legislation. The abortion giant’s spokeswoman, M’Evie Mead, says the deficiencies found were fixed immediately and the facility does not have a problem with inspections.
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She said, “Right now, to us, it looks like it’s not health and safety motivated, it looks like it’s politically motivated. We are committed to safety; we do a lot of safety measurements. We have rigorous safety standards and in that is included getting inspected by the Department of Health as they see fit, as frequently as they see fit.”
She added that if the abortion facility is going to be inspected more frequently, every ambulatory surgical center should be as well.
Additionally, a bill sponsored by Rep. Linda Black (R- Desloge) would enhance Missouri’s informed consent law by requiring women to watch an informational video produced by the Department of Health and Senior services prior to having an abortion. Black said, “It would be a mere image of the printed form, but only in a narrative documentary form.” Black added that her bill would help those who are illiterate or do not learn well by reading.
