Abortion clinics fear new Virginia law could shut them down

[Derechos]

Before Rosemary Codding allows visitors into the Falls Church Healthcare Center, a self-described “pro-choice women’s center,” she asks them to sign a confidentiality agreement. And show a photo ID. “Because,” she says matter of factly, “there’s all kinds of shenanigans when it comes to abortion.”

As a veteran abortion rights activist and founder and director of this center, she has beaten back attempts to zone her out of existence and found plumbers and HVAC workers to replace the ones she says were harassed away by round-the-clock protests outside her door. Over the years, she has complied with every new requirement: the 24-hour wait before a woman has an abortion; parental notification for minors; notarized parental consent for minors; and she makes sure all would-be patients have state-mandated information about alternatives to abortion.

But when the General Assembly passed legislation late last week requiring all offices, clinics and centers like hers that perform first-trimester abortions to be regulated as hospitals — arguably the strictest requirement in the country — Codding turned so red that she went into one of the clinic’s exam rooms and checked her own blood pressure.

Supporters of the vote hailed it as “historic.” Victoria Cobb, president of the antiabortion Family Foundation of Virginia, said the new regulations will be “common-sense safety precautions” that could for the first time allow health inspectors into abortion clinics and potentially make requirements that specific equipment be on hand.

But Codding, 68, sees it as more “shenanigans” in the long-running war over abortion rights. And depending upon how state regulators write the rules later this year, she fears that abortion opponents may succeed in practice what they have failed to achieve in court: an overturn of the landmark Roe v. Wade.

“Let’s be clear,” Codding said late Friday. Women came in throughout the day for abortions, Pap tests, fertility consultations and gynecologic cancer treatments. “This is not about health and safety. This is about targeting abortion providers and making it more difficult if not impossible to provide women affordable access to abortion with respect and dignity.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/abortion-clinics-fear-new-virginia-law-could-shut-them-down/2011/02/26/ABnE0TJ_story.html

See also: Influx of political appointees sets stage in Virginia for abortion clinic overhaul -

Already, Mc­Don­nell, a longtime opponent of abortion, has appointed six of the board’s 14 members. In coming months, he will name the board’s 15th member, filling a vacancy, and replace another member whose term ends June 30.

With those actions, McDonnell’s eight appointments will outnumber board members chosen by former governor Timothy M. Kaine (D).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/influx-of-political-appointees-sets-stage-in-virginia-for-abortion-clinic-overhaul/2011/03/10/AB8jaXR_story.html