South Carolina threatens to close two abortion centers after surprise inspections

South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) issued orders to suspend the licenses of two abortion centers for violations that include improper disposal of aborted babies. According to inspection documents, the facilities reported steam-sterilizing the remains of aborted babies without incinerating, cremating, interring, or donating them to medical research, as state law requires.

The suspension orders do not take immediate effect. Each facility must pay a fine and submit a “plan of correction” by Sept. 28 to avoid closure.

Gov. Nikki Haley ordered the unannounced inspections after pro-life group Center for Medical Progress began releasing undercover video footage detailing Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the fetal tissue trade.

An Aug. 31 DHEC inspection of Planned Parenthood’s Columbia facility listed numerous violations. Four different manifest sheets for “pathological waste”—DHEC’s classification of fetal remains—were stamped “steam sterilized” but lacked any indication the facility was following the state’s disposal guidelines.

Inspectors also found several expired medications in the pharmacy and sterile supplies stored with non-sterile supplies, including examination gloves. And five of 25 reviewed records showed abortions were performed before the mandated one-hour waiting period following the mandatory ultrasound. Other violations include incomplete record keeping.

In all, DHEC cited Planned Parenthood South Atlantic for violating 21 different state regulations, some on multiple counts, at the Columbia abortion center. DHEC fined the facility $7,500.

According to state records, the Columbia Planned Parenthood facility aborted 1,805 babies in 2013 and 1,645 in 2014. Planned Parenthood did not return calls or emails seeking comment.

After a Sept. 2 inspection, DHEC also cited Greenville Women’s Clinic for six violations, including the improper disposal of fetal remains. DHEC assessed a $2,750 fine against that facility, which aborted nearly 4,300 babies between 2013 and 2014. The facility’s office manager, Kathy Adams, said the abortionists were handling the response to the DHEC report. They did not return calls seeking comment.

To avoid closure, the two abortion facilities have 15 days to pay their fines and submit a plan that includes steps to “correct each cited deficiency” and “prevent similar recurrences.”

An inspection at the Charleston Women’s Medical Center turned up “four minor violations.” DHEC did not fine the facility or suspend its license. In 2013 and 2014, the Charleston facility aborted more than 3,800 babies.

DHEC also notified Stericycle and MedSharps, two companies that transport waste for the Columbia and Greenville facilities, of alleged violations, including the improper disposal of fetal remains.