2013 Code of Alabama
Title 26 - INFANTS AND INCOMPETENTS.
Chapter 23E - WOMEN'S HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT.
Section 26-23E-2 - Legislative findings.
The Legislature finds all of the following:
(1) That the percentage of abortion or reproductive health centers that have been subject to adverse licensure action vastly exceeds the percentage of facilities in any other category that have similarly been subject to adverse licensure actions. This alarming level of regulatory non-compliance among abortion and reproductive health centers in Alabama puts abortion patients at unreasonable risk.
(2) At abortion or reproductive health centers, patients are often treated in a manner inconsistent with a traditional physician/patient relationship.
(3) Abortion or reproductive health centers are not operated in the same manner as ambulatory surgical treatment centers or physician offices.
(4) Abortion involves not only a surgical procedure with the usual risks attending surgery, but also involves the taking of human life.
(5) Abortion is a highly personal and very sensitive procedure which results in stress and concern for the patient that is unique to the decision to have an abortion.
(6) Abortion is a very profitable procedure most often engaged in by stand-alone clinics without many of the safeguards found in a traditional physician/patient relationship or other medical care setting.
(7) Because abortion and reproductive health centers do not currently provide the level of personal contact found in many physician/patient relationships and in other medical care settings, it is necessary for the Legislature to mandate the personal presence and participation of the physician in the process.
(8) Moreover, because abortion or reproductive health centers have often failed to meet acceptable standards of medical care, it is necessary for Legislature to enact reasonable and medically appropriate health and safety standards for all abortion and reproductive health centers, and to provide effective enforcement mechanisms and disincentives for centers that are unable or unwilling to meet these requirements.
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