Shoddy conditions at New Jersey abortion clinic revealed

The Atlantic City Press lists the reasons why the Alternatives abortion clinic was shut down. Violations included "blood-stained operating tables," "expired drugs" and the absence of a scrub sink. The state health department found these violations after inspecting the clinic for the first time in six years.

The report also cited several sanitary issues, including "what appeared to be dried blood under the leg pads" on the procedure tables. Dust, rust, dirt and debris also were found on some equipment, and floors in the operating room, laboratory and recovery room were "soiled and stained."

Some of the sterilization problems may have stemmed from the clinic's lack of hot water. State standards require a licensed clinic to have hot water between 105 and 120 degrees. Based on routine water temperature checks during the past four years, the clinic failed to meet that standard 89 percent of the time, failing every check in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Will pro-choice groups speak out against the conditions at this abortion clinic, the clinic's owner or operator? I won't be holding my breath.

Alternatives is the second abortion clinic which has been temporarily shut down by the New Jersey Health Department in the last year.

Tags: abortion clinic conditions, Alternatives