Oregon State’s Board of Medical Examiners revoked abortionist Philip S. Alberts’ license in May of 1995, after it had received complaints from about one hundred women claiming that he had sexually abused them.
The Board ruled that he had committed sexual misconduct. Alberts also was charged with sexual abuse in a 29-count criminal indictment involving 18 victims.
The 62-year-old longtime Portland abortionist died of a stroke on May 29, 1995, before he could be tried on any of the charges. This meant that the 89 women who had agreed to testify against him would not get their say in court. The statute of limitations had expired on all but 29 incidents. Women stated that he had been molesting them right from the beginning of his 36-year medical career.
When, at the beginning of his medical career, he worked at the old Portland Air Base as a captain, some women said Alberts told them they shouldn’t complain about his actions because he could make life difficult for their husbands, who held lower ranks. Ilena Lacaden said that “I was absolutely terrified when he propositioned me. I didn’t think I had any power at all. I spent months just sitting in a closet, coming out just to take shower after shower, and trying to act normal around my husband. I wish I’d had the courage to do something years ago.”
On August 11, 1995, after a trial in Multnomah County Circuit Court, a jury awarded Terri Hunt $865,000 because Alberts had performed an unneeded hysterectomy, leaving her sterile and causing major bladder problems.
When Alberts died, he was also the defendant in five civil lawsuits, including two for alleged sexual abuse and one for allegedly taking unneccessary photographs of a patient’s genitals. It was unlikely that any of the victims would recover any damages, since the abortionist filed for bankruptcy in 1994.
Alberts was a fellow in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, former chief of staff at Woodland Park Hospital and former vice president of the Multnomah County Medical Society. He was also Secretary of the Gynecologic Laser and Advanced Technology Society.
Typically, in more than a dozen articles written by reporters for the Portland Oregonian – including two front-page stories – not a single one mentioned the fact that Alberts was an abortionist. The Oregonian did consider it newsworthy, however, to report all kinds of irrelevant details -that Alberts asked that his patients call him “Phil;” that he preferred maroon lab coats; that he wore Birkenstock sandals; that he had a private pilot’s license; that he drove a 1988 Saab with license plates “PMSRX” that is, the prescription for premenstrual syndrome; and that he wore a chain around his neck with a medallion of what appeared to be a vulva.
Not a single one of the pro-choice or feminist groups in the Portland area condemned Alberts’ actions.
References: Rick Bella and Steve Woodward. “State Ready to Revoke M.D. License of Alberts.” The Oregonian, January 20, 1995, page A01; Rick Bella. “Dr. Alberts Goes from Pinnacle to Pit in a Few Years.” The Oregonian, January 22, 1995, page A01; “Gynecologist’s Civil Lawsuits Will Come After Criminal Trial.” The Oregonian, January 25, 1995, page B05; Rick Bella. “Woman Sues Alberts About Genital Photos.” The Oregonian, February 25, 1995, page F03; Rick Bella. “Prosecution Plans to Call 71 Witnesses in Alberts’ Trial.” The Oregonian, March 17, 1995, page C01; Steve Woodward. “Medical Board Backs Away from Voluntary Limitations.” The Oregonian, March 20, 1995, page A08; Rick Bella. “More Women Will Testify in Sex Trial.” The Oregonian, April 21, 1995; Nena Baker. “Women Say Alberts Case Raised Public Awareness.” The Oregonian, June 1, 1995, page D01; “Woman Wins Claim Against Dr. Alberts for Unneeded Surgery.” The Oregonian, August 12, 1995, page D02.
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