Regulation of Clinics, Abortion

A Cemetery of the Innocents graced the campus of McHenry County College recently. Photo credit: Anne D'Amico.

Recently, the Illinois Department of Public Health verified to McHenry County Blog that none of Planned Parenthood’s facilities are licensed by that agency.

A new Friend of McHenry County Blog who wishes to be identified as “McHenrymom210“ has become interested in the regulation of abortion clinics.

It is common knowledge since the Ragsdale abortion clinic case out of Rockford that abortion clinics have only minimal regulations to follow.

Indeed, what else could the result have been with all three parties to the suit being pro-abortion.

Dr. Richard Ragsdale’s position is self-evident since he brought the suit against state regulation in the first place. He was represented by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Dr. Bernard Turnock, head of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an appointee of Jim Thompson, had no interest in offending the abortion industry. And neither did Democrat Attorney General Neal Hartigan.

So all three people at 1989 settlement conferences were on the same side of the abortion issue. “Pro-choice,” as they would put it.

It was pretty much like teacher-school board negotiations when the teachers’ union has put its people on the school board.

So, no surprise when meaningful inspections did not make the court order.

Having said that, there is some regulation of abortion clinics in Illinois.

They are called “Pregnancy Termination Specialty Centers” or PTSC’s for short. We’ll look at how the Illinois Department of Public Health has inspected them today.

These facilities don’t do abortions later than 18 weeks and have looser regulations.

How loose?

One indication might be the frequency of inspection by State Health Inspectors.

Here’s the record, as obtained through a Freedom of Information request:

  • ACU Health Center in Hinsdale – Its last full nursing inspection was May 9, 1997. A complaint was filed and looked into on August 15, 2001, but no findings are in the documents provided.
  • Anchor Health in Glen Ellyn – Inspected on March 6, 2002 for the initial survey (before patients are seen) and not inspected since.
  • Access in Downers Grove – Inspected last October 1, 1998. There are some discrepancies in how many operating rooms they have in proportion to recovery chairs. McHenrymom210 believes the facility had some important medical violations.
  • American Women’s in Des Plaines – Initially inspected on November 19, 2004. Facility was operating illegally without a license, stating that employees were told they could open on their old license. There has been no subsequent inspection.
  • Forest View in Des Plaines – Inspected on February 8, 2005. This was their initial and only inspection.
  • Michigan Ave Med Center in Chicago – Inspected on July 19, 2004. This was their initial and only inspection.
  • National HCS of Peoria – Last inspected on August 14, 2002
  • McHenry County College is seen in the background of this Cemetery of the Innocents. Photo credit: Anne D'Amico.

    Northern IL Women’s Center in Rockford – Last nursing inspection on August 2, 1996, although they had an architectural inspection in November 5, 2010 and documents indicate costly upgrades are needed. Narrow doorways—needed if emergency medical personnel are called–were not noted in prior inspections. (McHenrymom210 notes such access was recently shown to be needed in Philadelphia’s Gosnell’s clinic and lack thereof caused considerable delay, as did stuff cluttering the halls and a locked door for which the key could not be found. Lack of ready access and egress may have been a critical factor in the death of a woman. The EMT’s were able to get the woman through its narrow doors, but they may have caused delay.)

  • Women’s Aid Clinic in Lincolnwood – Last inspected on April 1, 1996.

There’s more to this story.


Comments

Regulation of Clinics, Abortion — 5 Comments

  1. What about the PP in Aurora? They perform abortions 3 days a week to women up to 20 weeks pregnant.

  2. ATTN: FORMER PATIENTS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS WOMEN’S CENTER!

    To ensure safe abortion please report any health or safety violations or concerns you may have. You can ask the state to investigate what you experienced by contacting them here:
    800 252-4343 during regular business hours. You may also wish to first discuss your concerns with the personnel available at the facility.

    Address written complaints by mail to:

    Illinois Department of Public Health
    525 W. Jefferson St. Longterm Care CCR
    Springfield, IL 62761-0001

    Address e-mail complaints to dph.ccr@illinois.gov ( Email may be the easiest way ) and remember you can be annonymous!

    RECENTLY AFTER MORE THAN 14 YEARS WITHOUT A STATE LICENSURE VISIT THIS FACILITY WAS CITED FOR SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES! PLEASE DON’T ALLOW FACILITIES LIKE THIS ONE TO GET AWAY WITH TREATING YOU WITHOUT DIGNITY AND CARE!

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