Will Kansas Become First Abortion-Free State?

AP Photo/Joel Page

Kansas could become the first abortion-free state in the nation.

According to the new state law,
clinics offering abortions must meet minimum safety standards before
they can be licensed. If clinics fail to meet the new standards, they
cannot legally do abortions.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment 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 KDHE will notifiy the trio of clinics on July 1 as to whether or not they can continue killing unborn babies.

“We have doubts that any of the abortion clinics can meet the safety
requirements of the new law,” says 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 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 an abortion by the notorious Kermit Gosnell.

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.

The first inspections under a new law 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.

“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,” says 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.”