Abortion Doc’s License Suspended
They are not “clinics” as we commonly call them. Clinics are places you go to get well. They are abortion centers. You do not get well at a Planned Parenthood center. In fact, your health may be in danger as there are no regulations to ensure your safety in Virginia. Recent news out of New Jersey and Maryland confirms this fact.
On Wednesday, New Jersey suspended Dr. Steven Brigham’s medical license. Dr. Brigham is an abortionist who owns American Women’s Services Inc., headquartered in New Jersey, but operating abortion centers out of New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Dr. Brigham’s manipulation of the system recently came to light (resulting in the suspension of his license) when the uterus and small intestine of one of his clients ruptured during an abortion. This is not the first time Dr. Brigham’s license has been suspended or revoked. Dr. Brigham has been cited in two New York botched abortions (resulting in the revocation of his New York license) and has shady standing in various other states.
It was Dr. Brigham’s routine to begin third trimester abortions in New Jersey (where third trimester abortions must be done in a hospital) and then caravan with his clients to Maryland (where they can be done in “clinics”) where he finished the procedure. In New Jersey, Dr. Brigham had no hospital admitting privileges, no OB/GYN training, and no medical permission to perform third trimester abortions (hence the pilgrimage to Maryland).
However, Dr. Brigham was barred from practicing medicine in Maryland as result of another mishap from the mid-90s. This did not stop Dr. Brigham; he simply listed George Shepard Jr., an 88-year-old disabled physician, as the physician of record to cover for his proceedings in Maryland (this is a felony under Maryland law!). Dr. Brigham rationalized his actions stating that he believed this to be acceptable since George Shepard Jr. was in the office at the time of the abortions. However, George Shepard Jr. suffered a stroke a while ago, disabling his arm and rendering him incapable of assisting in cases of emergency during Dr. Brigham’s risky third trimester abortions. Medically responsible? I’d say no.
According to records, Dr. Brigham’s clients were not even aware they’d be traveling to Maryland for the completion of their abortion. The abortion industry has proven to be quite profitable for those, like Dr. Brigham, who routinely perform abortions, which is likely the explanation for his “creativity.”
Is Dr. Brigham the only disreputable abortionist operating in Virginia and neighboring states? It’s hard to tell. However, since abortion center reporting and inspections are not required in Virginia, it’s virtually impossible to know for sure.
If Dr. Brigham had caravanned to Virginia instead of Maryland on this particular occasion, the chances that his client’s complications would have been linked to a botched abortion at the hands of Dr. Brigham are slim to none. Additionally, no emergency equipment (defibrillator, hemorrhage equipment, etc.) is currently required at Virginia abortion centers and therefore a Virginia facility may not have had the ability to even save this client’s life.
The health and safety of women demands the arraignment of doctors like Steven Brigham. Virginians must demand a higher level of professionalism and medical aptitude from its abortion providers and facilities. To address this critical issue, The Family Foundation has been and will continue to advocate for increased safety and regulation of abortion centers in Virginia in future General Assembly sessions.
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