Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Deadline passes for W.Va. abortion clinics to answer AG inquiry; whether they complied unclear

The deadline has passed for West Virginia's two legal abortion clinics to answer questionnaires from state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
The clinics had until close of business Monday to respond. Morrisey's office would not immediately say whether they complied.

The Department of Health and Human Resources doesn't have a specific licensing category for abortion providers, so there is no state agency specifically tasked with inspecting them.

Morrisey says he's investigating whether any regulatory changes are needed.

His three-page letters targeted Women's Health Center of West Virginia and Kanawha Surgicenter, both in Charleston.

He wants to know how often the clinics are inspected, how the staff ensures they're complying with the best practices and how they're affiliated with the National Abortion Federation.

Two civil liberties groups are concerned about the inquiry.