As the state of Ohio deals with three Planned Parenthood abortion clinics found to be illegally dumping the bodies of aborted babies in landfills, a South Carolina abortion business has been forced to pay fines related to its illegal activities.
After South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley ordered an investigation of abortion clinics in the state following a national scandal involving Planned Parenthood selling aborted babies and their body parts, state health officials found multiple violations. An investigation she ordered had found violations of laws or regulations by all three abortion clinics in the state, including one operated by Planned Parenthood. According to state officials, the violations include improper infectious waste disposal practices.
Planned Parenthood’s Columbia clinic and the Greenville Women’s Clinic, received suspension orders from the Department of Health and Environmental Control. The orders cite multiple violations found during recent inspections. The Charleston Women’s Medical Clinic was told to correct four minor documentation errors.
Now, one of the abortion clinics has reportedly paid its fine to the state:
An abortion clinic in South Carolina and a waste disposal company have agreed to pay the state’s public health agency nearly $8,000 in fines for violations concerning the disposal of fetuses.
Signed agreements and letters provided Tuesday to The Associated Press show the Charleston Women’s Medical Center paid a $1,800 fine earlier this month for not accurately reporting the amount of fetal waste it generates. Texas-based disposal company MedSharps has agreed to pay $6,000 for improper transport.
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Environmental Control says negotiations continue with another disposal company and two other abortion clinics in South Carolina.
They are the second round of fines stemming from the agency’s inspections this fall.
The clinics in Columbia and Greenville paid combined fines of $10,250 in September.
At the time the findings were announced, Haley said she supported DHEC’s decision to refer the findings to the State Law Enforcement Division.
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“The entire country was shocked by the videos showing Planned Parenthood employees’ horrifying disregard for human life,” Haley said in a written statement. “That prompted me to ask our appropriate state agency to investigate whether such wrongdoing was taking place in our state. The Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has now completed its investigation and has concluded that all three abortion clinics in the state are in fact in violation of South Carolina laws or regulations.”
“I fully support DHEC’s actions, including its referral of the matter to SLED,” said Gov. Haley. “South Carolina is a compassionate state, and we are a state of laws. We will not tolerate law breaking of any kind, particularly as it relates to the callous treatment of human life.”
DHEC Director Catherine Heigel said the agency will work with the facilities to help them get into compliance as quickly as possible.
Here’s more information form the state health department:
Based on these investigative and inspection efforts, DHEC took the following enforcement actions.
- The agency issued an Administrative Order of Suspension for Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic in Columbia, S.C., due to violations of state laws and regulations. The 21 cited violations included: non-compliance with the Woman’s Right to Know Act, incomplete medical and employee records, expired medications, improper infectious waste disposal practices, and failure to report abortions to DHEC Vital Statistics in a timely manner. The DHEC order becomes final on September 28, 2015, and will result in closure of the facility unless review by the DHEC Board is requested or the facility meets the terms of the order.
- The agency issued an Administrative Order of Suspension for Greenville Women’s Clinic due to violations of state laws and regulations. The six cited violations included: non-compliance with the Woman’s Right to Know Act, incomplete medical record documentation, and improper infectious waste disposal practices. The DHEC order becomes final on September 28, 2015, and will result in closure of the facility unless review by the DHEC Board is requested or the facility meets the terms of the order.
- The agency issued a Report of Visit to the Charleston Women’s Medical Center, which notifies the facility of four minor violations (e.g., documentation errors) that need to be corrected. The facility will be required to submit a plan of correction to the agency within 15 days.
- Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic in Columbia, S.C., and Greenville Women’s Clinic must submit a plan of correction to DHEC by September 28, 2015, show proof of staff training, and pay any assessed penalties in order to lift their suspension orders or face closure.
Additionally, DHEC initiated enforcement action related to the management of infectious waste at all three facilities and against two companies that transport waste for Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic and Greenville Women’s Clinic: Stericycle and MedSharps. Cited violations included insufficient documentation of waste disposal practices, failure to follow disposal protocol, and improper disposal of products of conception. The facilities and infectious waste transport companies have 15 days to meet with agency staff to discuss alleged violations, corrective actions, and possible civil penalties.
