Alabama abortion providers and pro-life advocates, at a public hearing in Montgomery on Monday, debated the need to tighten clinic regulations, The Birmingham News reported.
The hearing, held by the Alabama Department of Public Health, discussed proposed new regulations that would mandate physicians be board certified in obstetrics and gynecology in order to perform abortions.
In addition to board-certified doctors, it was proposed that each clinic have a medical director and provide written proof of a backup doctor who could handle complications.
Don Williamson, state health officer, said after investigators found numerous health violations at several clinics this year, the need for additional rules and clarifications became evident.
"It's consistent with our ongoing effort to improve quality of care," he said.
Cheryl Sabel, president of the Montgomery chapter of the National Organization for Women, told the Montgomery Advertiser that stricter regulations will only cause harm.
"The unnecessary regulations, which will only serve to place an undue burden on women's clinics," she said, "have been proposed because we live in a political environment hostile to reproductive rights."
But Eric Johnston of Alabama Physicians for Life said there is no reason an abortion clinic should be opposed to high standards of patient care.
"The issue is health care," he said.
The Rev. James Henderson, president of the Alabama Alliance Against Abortion, said he believes regulations should go further and require any doctor who performs abortions to have admitting privileges at a local hospital.
"There's a deplorable mess out at Alabama's nine abortion clinics," he said.
The input from the hearing will now be reviewed by the department and recommendations will be made to the state Committee of Public Health.
