Metropolitan Medical Associates in Englewood, N.J., one of the state's largest abortion providers, on Friday reopened after being ordered by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services to close last month for "immediate and serious" health code violations, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports (Gold, AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/23). Metropolitan Medical, which opened in the 1970s, performs more than 10,000 abortions annually and is one of the few clinics in the state that performs abortions up to 24 weeks' gestation. Rasheedah Dinkins, who had an abortion at Metropolitan Medical, earlier this month filed a lawsuit in the State Superior Court in Newark, N.J., against the clinic, charging clinic physicians Keith Gresham and Nicholas Kotopoulos with "negligent, careless and reckless care." The state health department in separate records released earlier in the month concluded that Metropolitan Medical failed to notify the health department "of an event occurring within the facility that jeopardized the health and safety of a patient." According to investigation records, state health officials found "brownish blood-like residues" encrusted on forceps, rusty crochet hooks used to remove intrauterine devices, and one-quarter-inch of dark red "dirt and debris" under an examination table at the clinic. Health officials also found that the clinic could not provide evidence that it had an infection-control plan or of an infection-control specialist on staff. According to the records, the clinic failed to train janitorial personnel upon employment and annually about proper cleaning procedures and equipment care, as is required by law (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/15). The state is required to inspect the clinic every two years but had not done so in five years, the Bergen Record reports (Layton, Bergen Record, 3/24). Health department spokesperson Tom Slater said the number of inspectors has not kept up with the increasing number of facilities that require inspection (AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/23).

Inspectors, Abortion Rights Opponents Present at Reopening
Health department inspectors were at the clinic on Friday, and Slater said officials would be making unannounced visits to the clinic to ensure that it was meeting state health codes. "Our role in this is strictly to ensure that this facility complies with state regulations," he said (Bergen Record, 3/24). The state is requiring the clinic to hire infection-control and administrative consultants, both of whom must be approved by the state and be at the clinic at least 40 hours per week (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/15). Slater said the department had not received complaints from other former patients but had received calls from "the general public with questions." The clinic's attorney, Frank Capece, said, "The state has done the most extensive review. We have the highest standards of any clinic' (Bergen Record, 3/24). About 20 abortion-rights opponents on Friday gathered outside Metropolitan Medical to protest the reopening of the clinic, the AP/Newsday reports (AP/Long Island Newsday, 3/23). Christopher Slattery, founder and president of EMC FrontLine Pregnancy Centers, urged women entering the clinic to continue their pregnancies and offered ultrasounds at his mobile van across from the clinic, according to the Record. "It's an outrage that this clinic is open," Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, said, adding, "If any other medical service besides abortion were provided here, it would not have reopened." Tasy in a March 15 letter to Gov. Jon Corzine (D) called on officials to establish a toll-free hotline for former Metropolitan Medical patients if they want to report complaints. Slater said the department was unaware of Tasy's letter (Bergen Record, 3/24).