State inspections force closing of 2 abortion clinics

Two Pennsylvania abortion clinics have closed their doors after being threatened with shut-down following state inspections.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health department has just released inspection records for two facilities called “Abortion as an Alternative,” one in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, the other in Bensalem.

According to the documents, officers found decade-old drugs and outdated medical equipment during an inspection in late October. The doctor in charge of the clinics has since retired and closed both facilities.

Dayle Steinberg, president of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, said inspections are more common since the shut-down of a West Philadelphia abortion clinic and the arrest of proprietor Dr. Kermit Gosnell.

“The state has stepped up to its responsibility to inspect clinics and respond to complaints about them,” she said. “They started inspecting abortion facilities again after Dr. Gosnell’s clinic was closed by the department.”

Steinberg added that yearly inspections of clinics are necessary to ensure patient safety.