The Pennsylvania Senate will not vote on Senate Bill 732 this week, but they may consider the Mensch Amendment to Senate Bill 732 in the coming weeks. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has asked its pro-life advocates to support the Mensch Amendment because the state’s abortion industry is currently exempt from commonsense safety standards that apply to other surgery centers. The reform called for in the amendment mirrors the language in House Bill 574, which passed the House with a vote of 148 to 43.
Let’s take a look at just a few reasons why the Mensch amendment is a critical addition to Senate Bill 732. The following are regulations that would be included in the Mensch amendment but would not be included in SB 732 without the amendment:
- Drugs shall be administered directly by a practitioner qualified according to medical staff bylaws, rules and regulations or by a professional nurse or by a licensed practical nurse with pharmacy training
- A medical professional certified in advanced cardiac life support shall be present until patients operated on that day have been discharged from the facility. If a patient receives general anesthesia, regional anesthesia or IV sedation, an anesthetist shall remain present until that patient has been discharged from the facility.
- The facility, the premises and equipment shall be kept clean and free of vermin, insects, rodents and litter
- Procedures shall be developed for cleaning and care of equipment, for establishment of cleaning schedules, for cleaning methods and for proper use of cleaning supplies and disposal of waste. Suitable equipment shall be provided to facilitate cleaning.
As you can see, the Mensch Amendment creates vital additions to Senate Bill 732, and would hold abortion facilities to the same fire and safety standards, personnel and equipment requirements, and quality assurance procedures as other freestanding ambulatory surgical facilities. Please contact your Senator TODAY to support the Mensch Amendment.
