Despite action to protect the public, over a dozen dangerous abortion mills run by suspended abortionists remain open
TRENTON, N.J., Sept. 9 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Medical boards in New Jersey and Maryland took action yesterday to insure that four abortionists halted operations after declaring that they pose a danger to the public.
The New Jersey Medical Board acted Wednesday to suspend the medical license of the notorious abortionist Stephen Chase Brigham after an investigation into a botched abortion discovered that he was starting late-term abortions in New Jersey then leading the women across state lines to Maryland where he and his associates would complete the abortions, some as late as 35 weeks gestation.
New Jersey is the last state in which Brigham maintained an active medical license. He has been banned from the practice of medicine in Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and California. He was never licensed to practice in Maryland, a state that ordered him to cease and desist from the unlicensed practice of medicine in that state on August 25, 2010.
A botched abortion on August 13, 2010, exposed Brigham's illegal late-term abortion racket, which included two other abortionists, Nicola Riley of Utah and George Shepard of Delaware.
Maryland authorities issued suspension orders for Riley and Shepard on August 31, 2010. A hearing was held yesterday in which evidence against the two was to be heard. Neither abortionist attended the hearing. Shepard's suspension was upheld since his attorneys did not show up for the hearing. However, Riley's attorneys were granted a continuance and have pledged to fight to restore Riley's license. Meanwhile, her suspension remains in effect.
In another case, Maryland abortionist Romeo Ferrer's medical license was suspended based on a four-year old abortion death complaint.
On February 3, 2006, a 21-year old African American woman went to Gynecare Center for a second trimester dilation and evacuation abortion by Romeo Ferrer. The patient was overdosed on pain-killing narcotics. She was not properly monitored and appropriate emergency protocols were not followed. This negligence resulted in the patient's death.
At a disciplinary hearing in June, the Maryland State Board of Physicians failed to act to suspend his license, but yesterday, the Board issued a suspension order that stated, "Based on the foregoing facts, the Board concludes that the public health, safety or welfare require emergency action in this case."
Pro-life groups including Operation Rescue, Defend Life, and Pro-Life Unity, have publicly demanded Board action against Ferrer and have worked to bring him to justice, and consider yesterday's suspension a partial victory.
Calls placed today to Brigham's 15 abortion clinics and Ferrer's Severna Park, Maryland, mill show that all locations remain operating and taking abortion patients with other abortionists at the helm.
"While we applaud the suspensions of the four abortionists, is it shocking to learn that their dangerous abortion businesses continue to operate," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "In the interest of public safety, we implore the medical boards to close these clinics before more women are maimed or killed."
About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.
