Missouri House Backs Clinic Inspections After Planned Parenthood Botches 27 Abortions

State   |   Sarah Zagorski   |   Feb 24, 2015   |   5:01PM   |   Jefferson City, MO

On February 23, the Missouri House of Representatives gave initial approval to House bills 190 and 427 by a vote of 119-35.

If passed, the legislation would require annual inspections of abortion facilities in the state. 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.

According to the Missourian, Rep. Swan cites a 2013 inspection that found violations at Planned Parenthood in St. Louis as inspiration for the legislation.

As LifeNews previously reported, in the last five years Planned Parenthood of St. Louis has had botched 27 abortions; and since 2004, the abortion business 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.

Missouri Right to Life applauds the Missouri House of Representatives for approving an important common-sense measure to ensure the annual inspection of abortion facilities. HB 190, introduced by Rep. Kathy Swan (R-Cape Girardeau), will ensure annual inspections for licensed abortion facilities, and it will not be optional for any Department of Health official, bureaucracy, or state executive to forego this much-needed requirement

The pro-life group said, “Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood St. Louis Region has had an inconsistent inspection history according to public records. In addition, complaints have been filed against the St. Louis abortion facility based on multiple documented reports of the presence of emergency medical personnel and ambulances. The ambulance visits have numbered over two dozen in just 5 years.”

Speaking on behalf of the bill were several female representatives with professional medical credentials, including the sponsor. The measure was third read and finally passed by the House today by a vote of 119 to 35. An identical bill in the Senate, SB 33, introduced by Sen. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau) is awaiting a hearing.

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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 HB 190 and 427, if passed, would increase mandatory inspections. 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.