| − | '''The ''L.A. Times'' Describes an Overcrowded Abortion Clinic, But Opposes Missouri Law to Improve It''' | + | '''The ''L.A. Times'' Describes an Overcrowded Abortion Clinic, But Opposes a Missouri Law to Improve It''' |
| | Monday the ''L.A. Times'' reported that "Planned Parenthood's clinic here in central Missouri performs about 600 first-trimester abortions a year, drawing patients from areas several hours away. Surgical abortions take place in two '''small''' exam rooms as the patient, often sedated with a Valium, lies on a padded table, her feet in stirrups. The recovery room, painted blue, is '''crowded''', the vinyl recliners positioned so close to one another, '''patients could hold hands'''."<ref>Stephanie Simon, "Facilities that regularly provide first-trimester terminations — including the pill version — may be regulated as outpatient surgical centers. Two of the state's three clinics would have to close," Los Angeles Times (Sept. 10, 2007), http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-abortion10sep10,1,4090012.story?coll=la-headlines-nation</ref> | | Monday the ''L.A. Times'' reported that "Planned Parenthood's clinic here in central Missouri performs about 600 first-trimester abortions a year, drawing patients from areas several hours away. Surgical abortions take place in two '''small''' exam rooms as the patient, often sedated with a Valium, lies on a padded table, her feet in stirrups. The recovery room, painted blue, is '''crowded''', the vinyl recliners positioned so close to one another, '''patients could hold hands'''."<ref>Stephanie Simon, "Facilities that regularly provide first-trimester terminations — including the pill version — may be regulated as outpatient surgical centers. Two of the state's three clinics would have to close," Los Angeles Times (Sept. 10, 2007), http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-abortion10sep10,1,4090012.story?coll=la-headlines-nation</ref> |
| | Missouri merely extended a law that already exists for outpatient (ambulatory) surgical centers to [[abortion]]. Missouri's Ambulatory Surgical Center Licensing Law ("the Act") was amended effective August 28, 2007.<ref>Codified at section 197.200 of the Revised Missouri Statutes.</ref> Prior to the amendment the Act defined an ambulatory surgical center as any "establishment operated primarily for the purpose of performing surgical procedures or primarily for the purpose of performing childbirths and which does not provide ... accommodations for patients to stay more than twenty-three hours ...." The amendment expands the definition to include any establishment that performs five or more first trimester abortions per month or any second or third trimester abortions. | | Missouri merely extended a law that already exists for outpatient (ambulatory) surgical centers to [[abortion]]. Missouri's Ambulatory Surgical Center Licensing Law ("the Act") was amended effective August 28, 2007.<ref>Codified at section 197.200 of the Revised Missouri Statutes.</ref> Prior to the amendment the Act defined an ambulatory surgical center as any "establishment operated primarily for the purpose of performing surgical procedures or primarily for the purpose of performing childbirths and which does not provide ... accommodations for patients to stay more than twenty-three hours ...." The amendment expands the definition to include any establishment that performs five or more first trimester abortions per month or any second or third trimester abortions. |
| − | Though the ''L.A. Times'' article admits to overcrowding, it misleads the pubilc in several ways. The article conceals how the Missouri law applies to all [[abortion]]s equally, and the judge's invalidation of the law would permit second and third trimester [[abortions]] to be performed at these overcrowded clinics. The article quotes three individuals who profit from [[abortion]] and oppose the law before quoting a defense of this law: "We're applying the same standards of healthcare to abortion clinics as we are to other medical facilities," said Pam Fichter, development director of Missouri Right to Life. | + | Though the ''L.A. Times'' article admits to overcrowding, it misleads the public in several ways. The article conceals how the Missouri law applies to all [[abortion]]s equally, and the judge's invalidation of the law would permit second and third trimester [[abortions]] to be performed at these overcrowded clinics. The article quotes three individuals who profit from [[abortion]] and oppose the law before quoting a defense of this law: "We're applying the same standards of healthcare to abortion clinics as we are to other medical facilities," said Pam Fichter, development director of Missouri Right to Life. |