Reader’s views: Abortion center inspections will protect women’s health

Minnesota licenses and/or inspects facilities ranging from nursing homes and veterinary clinics to cosmetology schools and tattoo parlors. Yet abortion centers, which perform a serious and common surgical procedure, are completely unlicensed and uninspected.

Due to loopholes in the law, abortion facilities effectively are exempted from the licensing requirements that govern other outpatient surgical facilities. Legislation passed this session in St. Paul would fix this gap in government oversight. It would require abortion centers to be licensed and allow for inspections by the commissioner of health.

These requirements are necessary to ensure basic health standards and to protect the public. Will Gov. Mark Dayton stand up for women’s health by signing this legislation? Or will he succumb to those in the abortion industry who demand special treatment?

Bill Poehler

Minneapolis

The writer is communications director for

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.

Tags: opinion, editorials, politics, minnesota, health