Checks of PA abortion clinics find some problems

Checks of Pa. abortion clinics find some problems: When they finally resumed routine inspections of abortion clinics last year after more than 15 years, Pennsylvania health regulators ordered 14 of the state's 22 freestanding clinics to remedy problems, a review of records shows. But none of the conditions found remotely approached the filthy and illegal operations described at the now-shuttered Philadelphia women's clinic presided over by a doctor who faces eight counts of murder related to his work there.

The most common deficiencies found by Health Department inspectors at the other abortion clinics, according to records obtained by The Associated Press, were failures to properly report medical conditions that qualify as 'serious events' and not keeping resuscitation equipment readily available. Also cited were failures to test or record urine protein and blood sugar levels, and issues related to checking on patients after surgery, in the recovery room. Other issues cited included not monitoring or documenting blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels; too much ice crusted inside a freezer for medication and not examining tissue from all first-trimester abortions, as required, to see if the women were pregnant.

The new inspections resulted in letters to six clinics in Pittsburgh, five in Philadelphia, three in Allentown and clinics in East Liberty, Upland, York, West Chester, Harrisburg, Reading, Norristown and Warminster. Eight of the letters said the clinics were operating in full accordance with state law.

In a September visit to the Hillcrest Women's Medical Center in Harrisburg, equipment was found well past expiration date. Also found was an unlabeled bag of blue pills and practices that raised patient confidentiality concerns. "It was noted that names of patients that were having procedures that day were displayed on the wall in the hallway where they could be observed by other patients," the agency wrote.