New law could make Kansas first abortion-free state

by Kathleen Gilbert

TOPEKA, Kansas, June 24, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) began inspecting the three remaining abortion clinics in the state this week, and said it will decide by July 1 whether they will be able to attain a license to practice under a new law.

Members of Operation Rescue, a pro-life whistleblower group, say they believe there’s a good chance the abortion clinics’ operating standards will be found unacceptable under the new requirements.

“We have doubts that any of the abortion clinics can meet the safety requirements of the new law,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “If they cannot comply, all three abortion clinics would be forced to cease abortion operations, making Kansas the first abortion-free state in the nation.”

The first government inspections under the new legislation began on Wednesday morning at Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood, an Overland Park abortion clinic that is currently facing 107 criminal charges related to illegal late-term abortions. The initial inspection is said to be a two-day review. The other two abortion clinics will be inspected within the next few days.

According to the new state law, clinics offering abortions must meet minimum safety standards before they can be licensed to legally perform abortions. The Health Department has the authority to deny, suspend, or revoke a license, and has the authority to fine a clinic for violations and go into court to ask that a clinic be closed.

The new standards include having an emergency door that can accommodate a gurney. The lack of such a door contributed to the death of Karnamaya Monger in Pennsylvania after a botched procedure by late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who now faces several counts of murder against both a woman client and infants killed after delivery.

Other requirements include maintaining proper emergency equipment, drugs and protocols, having proper lighting and ventilation, lavatory areas, and spaces for the sterilization of surgical equipment. Clinics must also have a licensed nurse in the clinic when abortions are done.

Operation Rescue has documented that it is a common practice for abortion clinics to employ under-trained, unqualified staff.

“If clinics cannot comply with these minimum safety standards, they are simply too dangerous to continue to operate. It is shocking that anyone would even question whether or not women deserve to be protected from shoddy and unsafe abortion practices,” said Newman.

“We certainly believe there is no such thing as a ‘safe’ abortion clinic. Abortionists have the attitude that they are above the law and will likely not keep it, therefore the best way to protect women is to close the abortion clinics.”