Abortion providers in Virginia say new state regulations represent a political attack on abortion services.
The General Assembly passed legislation that requires abortion clinics to be regulated as outpatient hospitals. Virginia facilities including Planned Parenthood's Roanoke office will require renovations to comply with the new regulations.
Tanya Semones is a field Coordinator with Planned Parenthood Health Systems in Roanoke. "These draft regulations are politicaly motivated," Semones told News 7. "They are driven by ideology, and the desire to end safe, legal access to first trimester abortion in Virginia," she said.
A spokesman for The Family Foundation said the new regulations will improve the health and safety of Virginia's abortion clinics. Chris Freund spoke to News 7 in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. "We think that most Virginians understand that standards calling for regular inspections, sanitary conditions and emergency equipment are very reasonable," Freund said.
The Virginia Board of Health will consider the draft regulations when it meets in mid-September.
