New York Abortion Facilities

The state refused to release the name and location of the clinics that they inspected. The violations cited below could be for ANY clinic in the state.

• 25 total clinics have abortion services in their license and are subject to inspection by the state.
• Since January 1st, 2000, 45 inspection have been completed on clinics:
  • 8 of the 25 clinics were not inspected at all.
  • 12 of these 25 clinics were inspected more than once.
  • No Clinics were inspected annually.
• The state averaged 3.5 inspections per year between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2012.

These are the violations that were found. Reports are below, mostly redacted

• Failure to ensure that medical personnel are properly credentialed.
• Failure to ensure that a qualified pathologist examine tissues removed during the abortion and that fetal remains and tissue are properly labeled as required by law.
• Failure to ensure that a registered professional nurse is present in the recovery room to ensure continual monitoring and observation for all post-operative patients.
• Unsanitary practice of reusing and reprocessing suction tubing for aspiration of human contents, which is clearly inconsistent with the product label which stipulates that it is a disposable device intended for single use.
• Anesthesiologist cited for relying on a broken monitor to continuously assess the patient’s cardiac status, vital signs, and oxygen saturation. The anesthesiologist failed to report the broken equipment to the appropriate staff.
• Sink in the laboratory is inappropriately used for cleaning and during procedures. Medication, mixing, hand washing, urine disposal and speculum cleaning are all done in the same sink.
• Autoclave (Sterilizing Machine) was not quality checked on a regular base. Sterilized forceps and cuvettes kept stored beyond the storage life of six months.
• Automated External Defibrillator not functioning and/or with outdated pads or maintenance.
• Staff screening for tuberculosis had not been performed; no current staff health assessment in place.
• There was no separately enclosed soiled and clean utility room to ensure adequate infection control. This includes the inability to ensure negative pressure in soiled utility areas.
• Surgical sterile equipment was stored in the same area as non-sterile equipment.

We have made new FOIA requests to the state of New York for inspection reports. The state of New York has asked for two extensions since our request. (see below 2018 pdf)