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An Albuquerque clinic is one of only four clinics in the U.S. that perform third-trimester abortions. Hospitals in New Mexico do not perform the late-term procedure, and only 10 percent of such procedures are done at hospitals in the U.S.
Yet the Southwestern Women’s Options abortion clinic is not licensed or inspected by the New Mexico Department of Health.
The clinic is considered a private physician’s practice and as such is under jurisdiction of the New Mexico Medical Board, which deals primarily with allegations that a standard of care has been violated. In other words, after the fact. The clinic’s other location in Dallas is licensed as an ambulatory surgical center, overseen by the Texas Department of State Health Services and subject to routine inspections.
The state medical board recently cleared the Albuquerque clinic and one of its doctors of negligence after a New York woman ended up in the hospital with complications from a uterine rupture associated with the abortion of her 35-week fetus.
The clinic performs its procedures in an office setting and does not have overnight accommodations. While it operates legally, this case points to a need for more oversight. Putting aside the national debate over late-term abortions, given the serious nature of the procedures and the potential for serious complications, it makes sense for the clinic to come under the umbrella of the Department of Health.
This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
