Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's public health agency has suspended the licenses of two the state's three abortion clinics and threatened to close them.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control issued suspension orders Friday for Planned Parenthood in Columbia and the Greenville Women's Clinic. The orders cite multiple violations found during recent inspections, including incomplete records and improperly disposing of aborted fetuses. According to manifests, they were steam sterilized rather than incinerated or buried as required.
DHEC Director Catherine Heigel says the agency will work with the facilities to help them get into compliance.
Jenny Black, regional CEO of Planned Parenthood, said the organization is shocked by the "extreme action." She added that DHEC found the clinic to be 100 percent in compliance with state regulations less than a year ago.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
