Abortion facility had no running water, may have seen patients anyway

An abortion facility in New Mexico is believed to have remained open despite having no running water — a violation of state regulations. Pro-lifers outside the facility believe staff may have committed two abortions during this time.

Key Takeaways:

• On August 16, pro-life sidewalk counselors arrived at Whole Woman’s Health abortion business in Albuquerque and learned that the water was not working.

• State law requires licensed medical facilities to have “an adequate supply of water” that is both safe and sanitary.

• The facility remained open, and at least two women seeking abortions entered the building at that time.

• A staff member’s husband attempted to fix the main water line, which was also reportedly a violation of the law. 

The Details: 

On August 16, pro-life volunteers with Abortion Free New Mexico arrived at Whole Woman’s Health abortion facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to minister to women seeking abortion. According to the organization, when the volunteers arrived, staff from the Water Authority were there and explained that the facility did not have running water. During the time that the water was not working, at least two women allegedly entered the facility for abortions. 

According to the New Mexico safety law, “A facility licensed pursuant to these regulations must be provided with an adequate supply of water which is of a safe and sanitary quality suitable for domestic use.” Performing medical treatments or procedures without running water for the doctor or medical staff to wash their hands is a violation of the law.

“Whole Woman’s Health was operating without running water at their grisly abortion center. Were they seriously not even washing their hands in between abortion patients?” Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico said in a statement, adding:

... Any decent business that performs invasive outpatient surgeries would have canceled appointments until the water was back on. Like most abortion centers, they are not concerned about local laws as they also had an unlicensed employee’s spouse try to fix the main water line which is also a violation of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department’s Construction Industries Division (CID) rules. Women deserve better than abortion, but unfortunately many think that it is their only option.

There are no restrictions on abortion in New Mexico, and Whole Woman’s Health commits abortions up to 22 weeks. It also offers the abortion pill up to 12 weeks — beyond the FDA-approved limit — and it will send the abortion pill through the mail, which is a greater risk for women taking it outside of the approved gestational range.

The Bottom Line:

Even if abortions were not carried out while the water was not working, any type of medical treatment must begin with hand washing. Whether that’s a birth control pill appointment or a visit for an IUD or treatment for a UTI or STI, women deserve safe and sanitary care.

But it is not uncommon for abortion facilities to skirt safety regulations in order to financially profit from abortion. AbortionDocs.org keeps tabs on dangerous abortionists and abortion businesses, and some abortion businesses have filed lawsuits to block safety regulations so that they can avoid the rules altogether.