Category: Provider Hall of Shame

Abortionist Stephen Pack, 44, of the posh Westchester County community of Chappaqua, New York was arrested by police after attempting to involuntarily abort his mistress, Joy Schepis, a 31-year-old nurse, by repeatedly stabbing her in the leg with a syringe filled with the abortifacient drug methotrexate on April 14, 2000.

He had asked her to have an abortion, but she had refused, and said that she would take care of her baby without his support. But this was not good enough for Pack.

Witnesses said that Pack shouted “I’m giving you an abortion … You are such a bitch!” as he struggled with her and forced her to the ground near a hospital’s parking garage. He was arrested minutes later and was arraigned on April 16 on charges of assault, criminal abortion, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Joy suffered five stab wounds to her leg and one to her buttocks in the attack outside Montefiore Hospital, in the Bronx, where she was admitted in stable condition. She underwent a leucovorin rescue, a procedure recommended by New York City Poison Control to counteract the drugs shot into her. Two days after the brutal attack, Joy gave a news interview on the steps of her home and said “I’m in shock. I’m scared. I’m terrified. This is the worst time of my life. … Pray for me and pray for the baby I’m carrying.”

Andrew Rubin, Pack’s attorney, said that after the attack, Pack did not try to flee or discard the needle. Instead, he walked into North Bronx Central Hospital, next door to Montefiore, where he deposited the syringe in a receptacle that is used for that purpose, and told people what he’d done. Pack is married and the syringe attack apparently was his attempt to abort the 6- to 8-week-old unborn child. Hospital employees told investigators that Pack and the nurse had been romantically involved for more than a year, and that he believed she was six weeks pregnant.

Pack said he learned about methotrexate, a labor-inducing drug that works as part of the RU-486 abortion pill process, in an article in The New England Journal of Medicine. He ordered the drug, filled two syringes with it and attacked Schepis in the hospital’s parking lot.

Pack’s wife, who answered the phone, expressed shock when she was told of the incident by a reporter.

On January 11, 2001, Pack pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and a single count of unlawful abortion.

On April 20, 2001, Pack was sentenced to two years in prison. He could have faced up to seven years if convicted at trial, based on a state law banning abortions performed without a woman’s consent. But Pack had reached a plea bargain that said he could not get more than three years for the attack on Joy Schepis.

Before he was sentenced in State Supreme Court in the Bronx, Pack told Justice Ira Globerman that he never meant to hurt Schepis. He said, “After 100 hours of therapy with doctors and priests, I fully understand that my judgment was wrong and that what I did was wrong. I’m very sorry.”

Schepis said that she was pleased Pack would serve time in prison, but she did not believe his apology. She said “I don’t think he’s very sorry for anything except that he’s going to jail.”

Schepis gave birth to a healthy boy on November 28, 2000. The plea deal was finalized after it was clear that the child was healthy. State Supreme Court Justice Ira Globerman sentenced Pack to 3 years of supervision following his release from prison.

References: Erika Martinez, Angela Allen, Eric Lenkowitz and Allen Salkin. “Fight to Save Needle-Attack Nurse’s Unborn Infant.” New York Post, April 16, 2000; Associated Press, April 15, 2000; New York Times, April 15, 2000; “Murder Attempt Shows Danger of Abortion Drugs.” LifeSite Daily News at http://www.lifesite.net, April 17, 2000; “New York Abortion Practitioner Arraigned in Forced Abortion Attempt.” Steven Ertelt’s Pro-Life Infonet at http://www.prolifeinfo.org/infonet.html, April 17, 2000; “Doctor in Forced Abortion Case Not Able to Testify.” Pro-Life Infonet, April 25, 2000; “Doctor Charged With Assault, Attempted Forced Abortion.” Catholic World News Service. News Briefs for April 17, 2000; Kirsten Danis, Laura Italiano, Erika Martinez and Andy Geller. “Needle Nurse Asks For City’s Prayers.” New York Post, April 20, 2000; “Are There Any Feminists Left?” Catalyst [Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights], June 2000, page 5; “Doctor Who Attempted Forced Abortion Indicted.” Catholic World News Briefs at http://www.cwnews.com, May 25, 2000; “Doctor Indicted in Forced Abortion Attempt.” Pro-Life Infonet, May 25, 2000; “Doctor’s Abortion Assault Prompts New Protection for Unborn Children.” Pro-Life Infonet, June 13, 2000; “Mother Who Endured Abortion Injection Has Baby Boy.” Pro-Life Infonet, December 4, 2000; “Doc Pleads Guilty in Abortion Syringe Attack.” Associated Press, January 11, 2000; “Doc Pleads Guilty in Abortion Syringe Attack.” Pro-Life Infonet, January 12, 2001; “LifeSite NewsBytes.” LifeSite Daily News, January 12, 2001; N.Y. Doctor Pleads Guilty to Abortion Charges for Syringe Attack.” Associated Press, January 12, 2001; “Doctor Pleads Guilty in Abortion Syringe Attack.” Catholic World News Briefs, January 12, 2001; Associated Press. “Doctor Gets 2 Years In Abortion-Related Attack.” April 21, 2001; “Doctor Gets Two Years for Attempted Forced Abortion.” The New York Times, April 22, 2001; Steve Ertelt’s Pro-Life Infonet, April 24, 2001.

Credit; Abortionviolence.com

 

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Just because a guy does abortions doesn’t mean he’s any friend to women, or a champion of choice. Pravin Thakkar stands as an example.

A woman I’ll identify only as Bonnie, age 33, said Thakkar seduced and impregnated her. He then forced medical instruments into her uterus during a July 1987 pelvic examination. Bonnie had suspected she was pregnant but had not considered abortion. She jumped from the examining table and wouldn’t let him proceed due to pain. For reasons the news articles don’t divulge, Bonnie later allowed Thakkar to complete the abortion which he had initiated without her knowledge or consent.

Another woman I’ll call Kathy, age 33, also alleged that Thakkar seduced and impregnated her. She said that Thakkar later aborted her fetus without her consent and over her protests during an examination on January 9, 1988. Kathy sued Thakkar for emotional distress, assault and battery, and wrongful death of the fetus.

A third woman, whom I’ll call Carmen, told an even more horrible story. Carmen, age 36, reported that she was 8 months pregnant to Thakkar, who had seduced her. She was at Thakkar’s house in 1983 when he gave her drugs to make her sleep. Carmen said that she briefly awoke to hear the muffled sound of a baby’s cry. Thakkar told her the baby was still-born. Carmen insisted that she did not consent to terminate the pregnancy. No death certificate was filed for the fetus.

News storys relate numerous episodes of sexually inappropriate or criminal behavior by Thakkar.

One patient I’ll identify as Sandi was having an IUD inserted and requested the presence of a nurse. Thakkar told Sandi that the nurse was busy elsewhere. While she was lying on the exam table, Sandi felt Thakkar’s penis inserted into her vagina. She pulled away and found Thakkar with his erect penis exposed.

Another patient I’ll call Iris said that during an office visit, Thakkar tried to give her his home phone number, and requested that she call him at home. Later that day he came to her house asking to use her phone to answer a pager call. Instead of going to the phone, Thakkar wandered off in her house. Iris sought him and found him standing nude in her bedroom at which point he raped her.

In the wake of the complaints about Thakkar, the medical board ordered a psychiatric evaluation. He was diagnosed by the board-ordered evaluation as having Anti-Social Personality Disorder. After he was convicted (June 11, 1991) of the three illegal and unwanted abortions, two counts of battery, and two counts of criminal recklessness, prosecutors feared Thakkar would flee the country, having received tip that Thakkar had applied for hospital jobs in Canada and Africa under an assumed name.

Thakkar was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Credit: Christina Dunigan, Abortionviolence.com

Sources: “Physician Indicted for Illegal Abortions.” Washington Times, November 3, 1989; Tyler Morning Telegraph, June 12 and 13, 1991; Associated Press, February 9, 1989; Ken Kusmer. “Abortions Cost Doctor 16 Years.” The Oregonian, August 1, 1991; and Frontline Updates. “Indiana Abortionist Gets 16-Year Prison Term.” National Right to Life News, August 13, 1991, page 12; The Indiana Health Profession Bureau Case #89 MLB 003.

 

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In tallies of murdered abortion workers, abortion supporters never count clinic owner/administrator Kenneth Yellin, who was gunned down outside his Chicago abortion facility November 3, 1979.

Yellin had been shot in the head five times in an apparent gangland execution. But new stories didn’t follow the pattern we’re accustomed to: that of lamenting the assassination (presumably by prolifers) of a hapless abortion provider. Instead, coverage featured such headlines as “‘Creepy Kenny’ died in the gutter where he belonged.”

“He left a trail of sour deals, bad paper, and civil suits,” one article said, noting that Yellin had run a series of businesses opened with money his father gave him (a paint and body shop, a car dealership, an import car business, and Kenneth Yellin Enterprises — whatever that was). The story went on, “[h]e put his business acumen and money into concerns that were characterized by their increasing sordidness and which have known links to organized crime. He ran a marriage counseling service which a former prosecuting attorney said was a front for prostitution, and was then believed to have operated or invested in X-rated movie theaters. The abortion business seemed a natural progression.”

Yellin, stories said, picked up the nickname “Creepy Kenny” as a child, when he was reputed to pull stunts such as putting sand in the gas tanks of parked cars.

His attempts to get a degree ended in failure when he was flunked out of four colleges.

Yellin was known for living high and on the edge. He had previously been arrested in his home town “for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest… charges he would beat on a technicality. He was driving a maroon Corvette and wearing a $2000 leather coat.” An attorney reflected on Yellin after his death, saying, “I remember him driving around town in a big white Cadillac convertible. There was always a blond sitting next to him. Different blonds each time.”

Yellin’s facility, originally called “Women’s Medical Facility,” had been closed by the state for licensing violations, but Yellin reopened it as Biogenetics.

Yellin had been passing himself off as “Dr. York” at Biogenetics, performing physical examinations on unsuspecting abortion patients. “Dr. York” was accused of battery for squeezing a woman’s breasts during an ‘examination,'” although for unreported reasons the charges were later dropped.

An undercover investigator at Biogenetics reported that Yellin scolded a recovery room worker, telling her, “We’re giving out too many cookies. Cookies cost money.” Yellin was this stingy with his cookies even though the patients had been fasting for a day prior to their abortions and were coming into recovery weak and hungry.

After Yellin’s murder, police went to his “elaborate” apartment and found “his live-in girlfriend, a tall, thin blond named Melody Forster” stuffing cash into a suitcase.

Forster later turned up in Florida. “There were pornographic video cassettes and assorted sexual paraphernalia stacked near the bed,” reports said.

During the investigation, evidence turned up that Yelling had recently lost around $200,000 “in a confidence scheme.”

Police also sought out “Robin Dragin, a professional burglar with mob connections,” who ran another Chicago abortion clinic that competed with Biogenetics for customers.

“Yellin reportedly held a secret interest in a second abortion clinic on the Far South Side that burned down. The fire is being reinvestigated for possible arson. Yellin was a heavy gambler and made high-risk investments. Although he made a ‘fortune’ from his business, Yellin owed a lot of money because he spent and invested it faster than he could make it.”

Yellin’s estate included “five suburban buildings worth more than half a million dollars,” $550,000 in personal property, “six autos, three boats, stocks and bonds worth more than $200,000.” Yellin left assets of $1.3 million, yet managed to die $1 million in debt.

Yellin got no sympathy from the press — or from anybody else, it seems — on the grounds of “providing vital reproductive health care services.” Rather, the fact that he was entangled in a seedy abortion mill was treated as just one more reason society didn’t mourn his death. One article quoted a police investigator as commenting, “What goes around comes around. He was a butcher. He got what he deserved. He died in the gutter where he belonged.”

Kenneth Yellin’s murder remains unsolved.

Sources: Chicago Tribune 11-4-79, 11-18-79; Chicago Sun-Times November 5-7, 1979; The Abortion Profiteers (Chicago Sun-Times Special Report)

By Christina Dunigan

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Abortionist Arnold Bickham ran Water Tower Reproductive Center, where Sherry Emry underwent her fatal abortion just before New Years Eve of 1977. He also performed the fatal abortion on Sylvia Moore on New Years Eve of 1986.

Frances F. alleged that she submitted to an abortion by Bickham in 1982 in Illinois. She sued for malpractice, but was unable to obtain a settlement due to Bickham’s malpractice insurance situation. The insurance company offered Frances $15,000, but Bickham would not agree to the settlement unless the insurance company would agree to resume his malpractice coverage after he got out of prison. (N.D. Illinois District Court No. 80 C 0547)

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According to the Chicago Sun-Times “Abortion Profiteers” expose, Anna G., age 19, submitted to an abortion by Pawan K. Rattan under Bickham’s supervision at Water Tower Reproductive Center in 1978.

Rattan began the abortion without anesthetic. Anna screamed in pain, and was told, “Lean your head back and shut your mouth!” Suddenly Rattan stopped, and told Anna “Stay in this position.”

Rattan brought Bickham in, who “stuck his hand up me and said, ‘Too far along.” Anna protested that the abortion was already half done, but Bickham told her, “We didn’t even touch you. All you had was a pelvic exam.”

Anna requested that staff call an ambulance due to severe pain and bleeding. She told reporters, “The whole examining table was covered with blood.” Bickham told her to get dressed, told her mother that her pregnancy was too advanced for a clinic abortion, did not indicate that Anna needed emergency care.

Anna was driven home, but by evening was so pale and in such pain that a friend took her to a hospital. There she underwent emergency care that corrected a vaginal perforation and an incomplete abortion.

Bickham had noted a 16-week pregnancy on Anna’s chart, but a doctor at the hospital estimated Anna’s pregnancy at 6-8 weeks.

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A Chicago Sun-Times alleges that Bickham refused follow-up care to 17-year-old girl suffering complications from a 1978 abortion he’d done on her at Water Tower Reproductive Center, because her mother did not have $25 cash to pay him.

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Bonnie D. alleged that she underwent an abortion by Bickham at Biogenetics December 6, 1975. She suffered infection, causing her to become “grievously ill to the point of death.” She incurred medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The summons for this case was served to Bickham at the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute, where he was serving sentence for fraud. (Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 76L 12753)

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Seong K. alleged that she underwent an abortion by Bickham and/or Myriam Wilson at Biogenetics on December 10, 1975. She faulted her doctor with failure to properly examine her, failure to obtain an adequate medical history, and improperly performed surgery. She faulted the clinic with employing an unqualified doctor, and failure to consult qualified physicians. She suffered internal and external injury, and endured pain and suffering. (Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 77L 23879)

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Phyllis M. alleged that she suffered a perforated uterus during an abortion performed by Bickham at Water Tower on February 25, 1977. She was discharged while hemorrhaging, and ended up being hospitalized for emergency surgery. It was an extended hospitalization. Phyllis suffered impaired sexual relations. Her suit alleged improper use and selection of instruments, and failure to inform her of the risks. Her suit also said that Bickham “performed such a multitude of procedures on such a large number of patients on the day of the occurrence complained of that he did not allocate and use the amount of time necessary adequately and properly to attend to the plaintiff.” (Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 79L 452; Chicago Sun-Times 1-11-79)

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According to “The Abortion Profiteers,” an undercover investigator reported that a woman came into Bickham’s Water Tower clinic for a pregnancy test, and was awaiting an exam. Bickham noted in her chart an entry of a negative pregnancy test, but did not answer the patient when she asked if she was pregnant. Instead he said, “Let me examine you.” Bickham examined her briefly, then did an immediate suction procedure, and told the woman, “Yes, definitely pregnant. … But not any more.”

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During the investigation for “The Abortion Profiteers,” an undercover investigator at both the Summit and Water Tower facilities owned by Bickam observed the behavior of Dr. Steven Mallinga. At one point, Mallinga reportedly noted a patient’s pregnancy as 14 weeks in her chart. When somebody pointed out to Mallinga that this was two weeks past the legal cutoff for outpatient abortions, Mallinga changed the patient’s chart to say that she was only 12 weeks pregnant.

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Bickham’s license was revoked in 1970 for performing abortions on women who weren’t realy pregnant. He served two years in prison after pleading guilty in 1979 of two counts of defrauding the government. During investigations of allegations of practicing without a license, Bickham’s attorney told reporters, “I think he’s a bright enough man to not do something illegal.” “The Abortion Profiteers” noted that, “Bickham, who submitted $792,000 in Medicaid bills in 1974 — the highest tab of any physician in the nation — was barred from the program in 1979 for ‘providing grossly inferior care.'”

Bickham’s license was revoked for the final time in 1989, following the death of Sylvia Moore. Court records show 23 malpractice suits against him between 1973 and 1988, mostly abortion-related. Even after the 1989 revocation, he was convicted of practicing medicine without a license: he and Julian Banzon were caught at Friendship Medical Center in a police raid. They’d been hiding in a closet. Evidence was the Bickham himself had been operating the facility. Police investigators also found three handguns and an unjspecified quantity of drugs which were confiscated because the Friendship had no physicial to dispense them legally. (“The Abortion Profiteers”)

When investigated by the state in the wake of the 1978 Chicago Sun-Times expose, Bickham allegedly said the state was “reacting to sensationalism in newspapers. … designed to sell newspapers and assist in building esteem for individual reporters who are muckrakers and exponents of yellow journalism at its very worst.” (216 Ill.App.3d 453, 160 Ill.Dec 21; “The Abortion Profiteers”)

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The preceding compiled by Christina Dunigan.

Update:

In 2003 Arnold Bickham was the principal of Sojourner Truth Elementary School. On October 22 of that year, a police report was filed (taken by Officer Shirley Brown.) The report was filed by a mother who alleged that Bickham had choked her son in his office. Bickham’s criminal past came to light, and he was dismissed amidst a flurry of child abuse accusations. to my knowledge, the accusations have not been proven.

(Source: Elizabeth Duffrin. “7 Principals in 3 Tumultuous Years” Catalyst March 2004

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In addition to the death of Stacy Ruckman, I’ve covered two botched abortions at Dr. Scott Barrett’s safe-n-legal reproductive health care clinic, nestled in the basement of a used car lot.

The most damning complaint about Barrett came to light after Stacy Ruckman’s death. The medical board noted:

“Barrett would rapidly push the lidocaine into each side of the patient’s cervical region waiting no more than one to two seconds between injecting each side. … approximately two patients per day would experience seizure activity where they would become nonresponsive, their respirations would cease and their body would shake. … the patient would be disoriented, unresponsive and almost asleep. … Barrett, during a conversation with another employee … commented that when his patients have a toxic reaction to the lidocaine it made the procedure go more quickly because the patient was more relaxed…. Barrett purposefully and deliberately injected these patients with more than the acceptable dosage … to create a general anesthetic effect so he could more quickly and easily perform the abortion procedure.”

Between the medical board documents and the lawsuit filed by Stacy Ruckman’s parents, we get an unflattering portrait of Barrett and his clinic. Documents indicate:

* the clinic had never been licensed as abortion facility or ambulatory surgical center, but Barrett still performed a reported 2,103 abortions there
* Barrett lacked privileges at any area hospital
* the clinic was not equipped properly to treat adverse reactions to Lidocaine
* pre-signed prescription forms for use by office staff were kept in a tackle box
* Barrett kept controlled substances in an office accessible to staff
* the clinic failed to retain necessary records

Stop a minute and recall the severity of what the medical board discovered. After investigating Barrett, the medical board found out that instead of using general anesthesia for abortions, Barrett would deliberately push too much Lidocaine, a local anesthetic. This would cause the patients to have a toxic reaction, which put the patients into a relaxed state similar to general anesthesia, and made the abortions go easier. Roughly two patients every day would stop breathing, go into seizures, and become unresponsive. One patient, Stacy Ruckman, died.

Despite this evidence that Barrett had been playing Russian Roulette with his patients’ lives — a deadly game Stacy Ruckman lost — Barrett had the gall to tell a local reporter that the investigation of his clinic constituted “just another tactic by the governor and the attorney general to further eliminate [abortion providers].”

And, just to round out our picture of this compassionate provider of vital reproductive health care services for women, we can reflect that Barrett had been arrested twice for drunk driving: once in 1984, and once in 1988. (Springfield News & Leader 6-9-91, St. Louis County Circuit Court Cause No. 502545)

Sources: Southeast Missourian March 1990; St. Louis Post-Dispatch 8-2-92, 3-5-90; Springfield News-Leader 6-9-91, 3-18-92; Greene County Circuit Court Case No. CV188-67SCC2; Kansas City Star 8-7-92; Columbia Daily Tribune 1-29-91; Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission No. 90-000255HA

Source: Christina Dunigan

 

 

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Dr. Gerald Zupnick was sued multiple times for abortions he botched while working for National Abortion Federation member Bill Baird. He practices in Massachusetts and New York. Along with Baird, Zupnick challenged the Massachusetts parental involvement law so that he could perform abortions on underage girls without informing or involving their parents.

A suit by Vivian S. alleged that she underwent an abortion by Gerald Zupnick at Bill Baird Center on November 5, 1983. She faulted Zupnick with failure to evaluate her symptoms. Vivian suffered a perforated uterus, incomplete abortion, and bleeding. She asserted that Zupnick was unqualified to perform her abortion, that he abandoned her, failed to hospitalize her when her condition required hospital care. Vivian had to undergo corrective surgery under general anesthesia, and was hospitalized December 7-9. She also required multiple transfusions, and was left with impaired fertility. She also sued for lost earnings. (Nassau County Supreme Court Index No. 1281-84)

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A suit by Merline G., age 27, alleged that she sought counseling at Bill Baird Center on May 28, 1983. Center staff arranged for abortion of Merline’s 6-week pregnancy that day by Zupnick. Merline later learned that the staff “induced plaintiff to submit herself to the procedures by material misrepresentations.” Merline had “instant, intense pain” during the procedure, and informed Zupnick. Her suit said “it was clearly observable to defendants, and to the nurse in attendance, that something was obviously wrong with the procedure… defendants continued in the same erroneous manner, not even alleviating plaintiff’s pain with any anesthesia; for hours thereafter insisted on plaintiff remaining on the premises, unattended to, in pain, followed by a repetition of the identical misapplication.” Merlene faulted Zupnick with “failure to administer even so much as a local anesthetic,” and noted that he detained her “without care or treatment for her condition.”

Merline asserted that Zupnick and Bill Baird Center staff kept Merline isolated from the friend who had accompanied her, and interfered with their communications. Merline, “in order to leave the premises to receive proper medical care was required to slip out of the premises unobserved.” The suit asserted that their treatment of Merline “not only constitute malpractice, but violate the lowest standard of care applicable to a volunteer layman, who would purport to assume responsibility in an emergency.”

Merline was hospitalized two weeks, where she passed products of conception, and treated for pelvic infection. She also required blood transfusions. Zupnick contended he did not perform a second procedure, only an exam, and that he referred Merline to hospital.

Merline’s attorney investigated Zupnick and the Bill Baird Center and noted that “80% of Zupnick’s practice was Baird referrals, 90% of it abortions.” Abortion patients would come to the Baird Center, where they would complete a history for Zupnick, and execute an informed consent for Zupnick in form and content prepared by Zupnick; to be instructed in the abortion procedure by counselors trained by Zupnick. Patients would pay $165: $85 to Baird and $80 to Zupnick, with Baird collecting Zupnick’s fee for him. Patients were then walked next door to be aborted by Zupnick. (Queens County Supreme Court Index No. 41067/84)

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A suit by Beverly S., age 21, alleged: that she submitted to an abortion of her 3-month pregnancy on February 12, 1978. The abortion was performed at Bill Baird Center by Zupnick. Beverly suffered a perforated uterus, pain, and excessive bleeding. Beverly was transported to a hospital, where she arrived at the emergency room with no blood pressure to to hemorrhage. She had to have a hysterectomy. Beverly faulted Zupnick with failure to take an adequate medical history, failure to perform a complete physical exam, failure to detect beverly’s deteriorating condition, failure to advise Beverly to undergo further evaluation and care, failure to keep abreast of medical knowledge, failure to inform Beverly of risks and alternatives, and failure to monitor Beverly’s vitals appropriately. (New York County Supreme Court Case No. 21580)

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Compiled by Christina Dunigan

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Dr. John Dupont has faced many lawsuits over the years.

Dupont was associated with the death of Kathy Murphy at Inglewood. The year before Kathy Murphy’s death, 20-year-old Katherine Morse died from complications of a saline abortion performed on her by Dupont at Bel Air Hospital.

Dupont was also an abortionist for Edward Allred’s Family Planning Associates Medical Group (FPA). Some of the suits he faced there include:

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Catherine R. alleged that she underwent treatment by Dupont April 16, 1986, at FPA, suffering permanent and serious injury. (LA County Superior Court Case No. NEC47207)

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Susan K. said that she underwent an abortion by Dupont at FPA August 22, 1986, and that he failed to kill the fetus. She underwent a second abortion. (LA County Superior Court Case No. NWC33129)

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Dupont also worked for Leo Kenealley’s notorious Her Medical Clinic, where he faced lawsuits including these:

Rosalyn W alleged that she had an abortion performed by Dupont at Her Medical Clinic July 11, 1983. Dupont failed to kill the fetus, and failed to inform her that she was still pregnant. She gave birth to the child. (Personally, I don’t consider this an injury, but evidently Rosalyn did.) (LA County Superior Court Case No. C503054)

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Gail H. said that she underwent an abortion by Dupont at Her Medical Clinic January 11, 1982, suffering serious and permanent injury. She sued for loss of earnings. (LA County Superior Court Case No. C414532)

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Lonnie W., age 23, mother of 3, alleged in her lawsuits that Dupont and other defendants conducted tests December 30, 1981, and discovered that she was pregnant. Lonnie consulted with the defendants, and was advised “she should have an abortion to terminate her pregnancy.” The abortion was done that day by Dupont and/or Leo Kenneally at Her Medical Clinic. Whoever performed the abortion did not kill the fetus. Lonnie visited Her Medical Clinic again February 22, 1982, and was informed then of her continued pregnancy. Lonnie said that she “could not bear the emotional trauma of a repeat abortion at that stage in her pregnancy,” and gave birth to her child.(LA County Superior Court Case No. C447811)

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Consuelo M. said that she had an abortion by Dupont at Her Medical Clinic May 19, 1978. Consuelo said that she was not adequately informed of the risks of the procedure. She returned for follow-up June 1, when she complained of pain. She was examined, and told to return June 8. On June 3 Consuelo was admitted to USC Women’s Hospital for a D&C. Her admitting diagnosis was infected incomplete abortion. The attorney for the defense contends that the second D&C showed no infection or products of conception. Consuelo suffered “inability to walk, sit, stoop without pain,” and weakness, loss of appetite. Her suit was dismissed for failure to attend a scheduled examination. (LA County Superior Court Case No. 263024)

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John Dupont also worked in other abortion facilities besides the high-profile, prolifer-beleaguered Inglewood, FPA, and Her Medical Clinic, as well as Edward Allred’s Family Planning Associates Medical Group (FPA):

Laura S. alleged that she underwent an abortion at Feminist Women’s Health Center, performed by Dupont November 18, 1975. Upon arriving she “was placed in a room with a number of other young women and asked to sign a number of documents.” Laura was not informed of the possibility of an incomplete abortion. On November 20, Laura experienced severe cramping, bled heavily, and expelled a fetus “clearly identifiable from arms, legs and head.” She called the clinic, and was told she could not have passed a fetus and had only passed a clot, and that there was no cause for concern. Laura then called her family doctor, and went in to be examined. Her family doctor performed a pelvic examination, then arranged for Laura to be admitted to a hospital for a D&C. She was discharged 2 days later. The fetus she had expelled was sent to a lab for identification, where it was found to appear normal except that its skin was slightly macerated. It measured 5.5 cm crown to rump. Laura was notified in January of 1976 that the clinic was suing her for an abortion fee, even though she had informed them of the expelled fetus and expenses incurred due to the incomplete abortion. (LA County Superior Court Case No. C184084)

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A suit filed in 1975 by Judith G. alleged that she’d undergone an abortion by Dupont. She said he failed to take a medical history, and failed to perform a proper pre-op examination and detect a uterine abnormality. The suit also alleged failure to inform Judith of additional risks and to recommend alternative treatment. Due to these failures, she required a subsequent hysterectomy. (LA County Superior Court Case No. WEC30081)

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In addition to his involvement in the deaths of two abortion patients, and the malpractice suits, Dupont got in trouble for over charging Medi-Cal:

A 1982 audit indicated that Dupont charged Medi-Cal for more the expensive live-animal (“bioassay”) pregnancy tests when he was performing “a simple urine test.” Dupont held that he was entitled to the higher fee because the urine test kits used “isolated organ preparation,” and could therefore be construed to be within the definition of “bioassay” as defined in medical dictionaries. The state did not concur. The audit also indicated that Dupont’s patient records did not always substantiate his billing claims, although he countered that lab tests and his memory could adequately substantiate the billing claims. Substantiating lab tests were not found to be in patient files. (California Medical Board Case No. C503038)

Note: Dupont is John Roe 226 in Lime 5.

By Christina Dunigan

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Dr. Gan Tijook practiced at the Associated Concern abortion mill, aka Pre-Birth, in Chicago.

Valentina T., age 23, alleged that she underwent an abortion by Tijook at Associated Concern March 22, 1975 under the direction of Bijan Ghorbani and Samuel Edwards. Tijook failed to remove the entire fetus, but told Velentina that her abortion was complete. Valentina suffered tears to her body tissues during the abortion. Valentina was not given appropriate post-operative care. After she was discharged from the facility, Valentina discharged fetal parts. She suffered a fever of 104, and was hospitalized March 30 to April 3. She sued for loss of family income due to her husband having to take leave from work to care for her. Valentina’s suit alleged that the clinic violated numerous provisions of the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act, including failure to supervise staff, failure to establish standards of care, failure to secure a pathology report, failure to provide written post-op instructions and emergency phone number, failure to obtain complete medical history, failure to perform complete physical exam, failure to observe the patient for a sufficient period before discharge, failure to admit the patient to a hospital when complications were evident, failure to monitor vitals, and non-compliant newspaper advertising.

A Pre-Birth Clinic brochure submitted as evidence in Valentina’s case stated that patients would be “given time, and a place for recovery. In the lounge, the woman’s physical and mental condition is constantly monitored. Then, for her, its on to a normal life;” “Pre-Birth Clinic is extremely proud of a well-rounded staff providing viable services to the public;” “Pre-Birth Clinic is a 24 hour abortion and vasectomy clinic;” “Pre Birth Clinic believes … The control of population growth and the keener interest in Ecology had given impetus to the use of voluntary sterilization in males and the terminating of pregnancies in females.” (Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 75L 7567)

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Denise C., age 20, alleged that she underwent an abortion by Tijook at Associated Concern January 11, 1975. She suffered an incomplete abortion. Tijook failed to provide post-op care or transfer Denise to a hospital. After being discharged from the clinic, Denise suffered pain and bleeding for five weeks. She was hospitalized February 14-16 due to hemorrhage. She also faulted Tijook with lack of informed consent. (Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 75L 17713)

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Associated Concern is the facility where Sharon Floyd and Linda Fondren underwent their fatal abortions.

Faizha D. alleged that she underwent an abortion at Associated Concern June 22, 1974. She suffered an incomplete abortion, and damage to her cervix and vagina. She incurred medical expenses and lost wages. (C4576 – Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 76L 11789)

Rebecca R. alleged illness after a 1974 abortion by Dr. Gobanic at Associated Concern.

News reports say that Associated Concern clinic was closed by the Illinois health department July 1, 1975 under allegations of failure to perform exams before abortions and improper record keeping. A reporter alleged calling to make an abortion appointment while the clinic was closed by state; she was told that the doctors were on vacation and would not be able to see her until Friday. (The Abortion Profiteers; Chicago Today 8-16-74, Chicago Tribune 8-17-74, 8-21-74)

 

 

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Dr. Tommy E. Swate plied his trade in abortion in Texas and Louisiana, with unpleasant results. Swate’s license was suspended and and he was placed on probation for five years starting in 1992 due to professional failure to practice medicine in an acceptable manner and repeated meritorious health-care liability claims, including pleading no contest to allegations of 14 botched abortions.

A patient I’ll calll “Gloria” alleged that she had an abortion performed by Swate April 4, 1987. During a subsequent visit, Swate did an ultrasound, and told Gloria he had to suction out blood clots from her abdomen. The next morning at 2 AM, moaning from pain, Gloria expelled a fetal head. When she was unable to find an attorney to file her case, Gloria called Swate, wanting to return the fetal head to him and get a refund, whereupon she said Swate threatened to have her arrested.

A patient I’ll call “Cris,” age 19, alleged that she had an abortion by Swate at Gulf Coast Women’s Center, Pasadena, Texas, on July 19, 1985. She was admitted to Humana Hospital with complications which persisted after her release. Cris sought a consult from another physician, who informed her that she was probably sterile due to improper treatment.

A patient I’ll call “Bernice” filed suit against Swate, alleging she hemorrhaged and expelled a dead fetus two days after 1985 abortion by Swate. Another patient, “Shelli” sued Swate, alleging that she had an abortion at 16 weeks performed by Swate August 16, 1985. Shelli fell ill two days later and was admitted to hospital for removal of the dead fetus. Yet another patient, “Marsha,” sued, claiming severe pain and illness following a September 24, 1984 abortion by Swate. Marsha then went to West Loop Clinic, “where doctors found an ‘unborn fetus in an abnormal postition.'” Marsha claims she is injured for life.

A woman asking to be identified only as Marilyn made accusations against Swate. She said that ten years earlier, had gone to Swate with pregnancy complications. Swate told her fetus would be retarded. Marilyn had a retarded child already, whom she loved, and asked Swate to save her unborn baby. Swate told her that he could not, and instead performed an abortion, perforating Marilyn’s uterus and small intestines. Marilyn required a hysterectomy, but her attorney dropped the case.

Swate didn’t just do abortions. He also ran some methadone clinics in Texas, which were forcibly closed due to allegations of the following violations of state and federal methadone laws:

– Failure to properly document addiction before administering methadone
– Failure to restrict patients who test positive for illicit drugs or negative for methadone
– Inadequate oversight of patients’ doses – Allowing patients to pick up doses for other patients
– Allowing an undercover agent to obtain methadone.

Abandoned methadone patient files were found in Swate’s house. At least three clients died of apparent methadone-related deaths.

Swate also ran into other troubles. In March 1980, Swate sued a hospital nurse for supposedly describing him as ‘not the best doctor’ who was ‘known for delivering babies too soon and famous for inducing labor.'”

Swate was charged with assault of a female investigator posing as patient in order to serve a subpoena on Swate. He had evidently evaded a previous subpoena by outrunning the server.

Swate was banned from practicing at Humana Hospital after two doctors implicated him in injuring at least 23 abortion patients. Swate then allegedly threatened to assault doctor who implicated him. Swate sued to try to regain his privileges with an injunction. His petition was denied.

(Sources: Pasadena Citizen 5-9-86, 8-14-87; Houston Post 6-6-86, 7-25-86; Hardin County News 10-7-92; Houston Chronicle 6-6-86, 7-1-86, 5-15-91, 11-13-92; Harris County District Court Case No. 86-20421)

Credit: Christina Dunigan

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Dr. David B. Aberman was an abortionist at Chicago’s notorious Biogenetics abortion mill.(since closed down)

A news article says that an abortion patient at Biogenetics said of Aberman, “He gave me no anesthesia, not even a local. I had tears running down my cheeks. And right then, right in the middle of performing the abortion, he yelled to the nurse, ‘This lady is not pregnant!'”

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The article alleged that Aberman did abortions at Biogenetics after drinking champagne at a lunch time staff birthday party. (The Abortion Profiteers)

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Biogenetics is the facility where Synthia Dennard, Sandra Chmiel, and Brenda Benton underwent their fatal abortions.

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