Pro-Life Page

by Steven Ertelt | LifeNews.com | 10/9/14 10:14 AM

A notorious abortion practitioner who infamously stored the bodies of more than 30 aborted babies in his freezer as keepsakes has lost his medical license following a lengthy New Jersey medical board hearing yesterday. After Kermit Gosnell, he’s been called the “worst abortionist in America.”

Brigham has been accused of practicing medicine without a license in Maryland during a bi-state late-term abortion scheme he ran to avoid abortion limits in his home state of New Jersey. His nefarious practices were discovered in 2010 when he and his associate, abortionist Nicola Riley, severely botched a late-term abortion on an 18-year old patient, rupturing her uterus and pulling out part of her bowel. The majority of the baby’s body was thrust into the patient’s abdominal cavity. Brigham drove the injured patient to a nearby hospital emergency room, where his suspicious behavior prompted hospital staff to call the police.

The patient was air-lifted to a Baltimore hospital where emergency surgery was required to save her life.

Police raided Brigham’s clandestine Elkton, Maryland, abortion facility and discovered the remains of over 30 late-term babies stored in a bloody freezer. (See file photo below right of aborted babies Kermit Gosnell stored in a freezer).

In December, 2010, Brigham and Riley were arrested and charged with murder in the deaths of 11 babies who were killed during illegal abortions. Those charges were later dropped after an expert witness for the prosecution withdrew from the case.

“After a hearing that lasted approximately nine hours, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners unanimously agreed to revoke the license of Steven C. Brigham,” Marie Tasy of New Jersey Right to Life told LifeNews.

Tasy attended the hearing and has attended several other hearings over the years involving Brigham and she said Brigham tried to blame his misfortunes on pro-lifers who he referred to as the “forces of hate.”

“The New Jersey Attorney General pointed out that this tactic was nothing more than his attempt to deflect attention away from his own misconduct and dishonesty,” Tasy said. “It has been reported in earlier press accounts that Brigham would no longer be allowed to operate clinics if his license is revoked under New Jersey law.  We certainly hope that is the case, but given Brigham’s penchant for flouting the law, it is a situation that will have to be monitored closely.”

Other leading pro-life activists had hoped the medical board would revoke his license.

“Given this man’s horrific track record, anything less than revocation is unthinkable, and would only continue to put the lives of women in jeopardy,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue.

Here’s more on what happened:

Finding several counts of gross negligence, deception and official misconduct against him, the state Board of Medical Examiners also ordered Brigham to pay $140,000 in penalties. At a future hearing, the board will decide how much of the state’s court costs he will be ordered to pay; the tab is expected to exceed $500,000.

The board suspended Brigham’s license in 2010 after the Attorney General’s Office argued he used the two-state process to evade New Jersey’s requirement that terminating pregnancies must take place in a hospital or licensed health care facility after 14 weeks. Brigham did not have hospital privileges at the time and is not an obstetrician or a gynecologist.

Writing at LifeNews, Cheryl Sullenger of Operation Rescue provided more background on Brigham:

Brigham has battled legal issues throughout his entire career, having had his licenses revoked in New York and Florida. He surrendered this Pennsylvania license under pressure and was ordered to never hold ownership of an abortion facility in that state again – an order he violated last year by opening an abortion facility in Philadelphia, which was soon closed by the state after pro-life activists complained.

Brigham’s abortion facilities in Maryland were also closed by the state after dangerous practices were repeatedly found, including a patient death at one of his offices he ran out of a residential condominium complex.

Despite the orders, Brigham continues to troll for abortion customers in those states. The phones for his defunct clinics still ring into his American Women’s Services central appointment line.

According to New Jersey law, unlicensed practitioners are not allowed to hold ownership in medical facilities in that state, so if Brigham’s license is finally revoked, he should be ordered to shut down his eight abortion offices in New Jersey.

It is believed that Brigham currently operates 17 abortion facilities in at least four states. Because he has been run out of one state after another, he has taken to the practice of attempting to conceal his ownership of abortion centers, five of which are so far under the radar that their whereabouts are currently unknown.

Whatever the New Jersey Board decides, it is not expected to affect the remaining abortion facilities he continues to own in Virginia, Delaware, and Florida.

“Steven Brigham is the kind of man that is not affected by traditional discipline. We strongly believe that jailing him is the only way to stop him from operating illegally and secretly, as he has done his entire career,” said Newman. “However, license revocation will ensure that he cannot ever practice again, and if he does, his old jail cell awaits him.”

by Steven Ertelt | LifeNews.com | 10/6/14 3:48 PM

When women have abortions, they face a panoply of medical and mental health risks that are more elevated than the risks women face after giving birth. A producer of a video documentary says he wants women to be better informed of abortion abortion hurts women.

B. Keith Neely tells LifeNews he wants to get the physical and emotional health risks information into womens’ hands and he had put online a video that plainly and compellingly tells the story.

“This is extremely important because women who know the health risks avoid abortion: Every Right-to-Know law is fought by the abortion industry,” he said.

Neeley has produced Wounded and Abandoned and he is “astounded that in our internet era, the proof of women being hurt- even killed- by abortion is being called “myths and lies”, while at the same time court cases with judges and juries- are carefully examining that proof and saying- ‘yes these risks of abortion are true’.”

He is hoping to be able to push the video to a greater audience using the Internet.

He said: “Where does a woman, unexpectedly pregnant, look for information she can trust about the health risks of abortion? If she is part of ‘Generation Z’, she has grown up with a video screen in her hand and gets the information she wants when she wants it on the internet. If she knows of a nearby crisis pregnancy center she might Google “CPC” and select “Wikipedia”. Tragically she would read phrases such as “false information”, “deceptive business practices”, “heavy-handed”, “misleading advertising”, “inaccurate medical information”, “religious proselytism.”

“It is not enough to state the facts of 8 physical and 8 emotional risks. Wounded and Abandoned walks the viewer through why and how the facts of the health risks are skewed and twisted obscuring the truth”. It adds new HD animation to reveal the hidden damage of induced abortion,” he adds.

Neeley says: “And perhaps most important — something that cannot be demeaned — is the court affidavit signed Victim Impact Statement testimony of 7 post abortion women- and a man. Their horrific yet commonplace stories, including rape, are of how ordinary people were deceived into a “simple” solution that they regret to this day.”

by Cheryl Sullenger | LifeNews.com | 10/3/14 11:06 AM

Two years ago, there were over 40 abortion facilities operating in Texas with very little oversight. Yesterday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that could result in the immediate closure of 13 abortion facilities, leaving only seven open by this weekend.

A spot-check conducted by Operation Rescue early Friday morning of several facilities that are in known non-compliance with the law shows that some have already shut down while others continue to operate.

The ruling blocks a stay issued by a lower court on enforcement of Texas’ HB2, which provides minimum safety standards for abortion businesses, until the State’s appeal of the lower court’s decision that the law is unconstitutional can be heard.

The ruling allowed the full law to be enforced immediately, including portions that were previously blocked by the lower court that pertained to the requirements that abortionists maintain hospital privileges within 30 miles of their abortion facilities and that those facilities meet Ambulatory Surgical Center standards.

“This is a huge victory and gives us every confidence that all the provisions of HB2 will prevail upon appeal,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, who has coauthored the new book, Abortion Free, that outlines how to implement strategy to stop abortion, including those used in Texas will soon be responsible for closing 83% of all abortion centers in that state. Previous closures have already caused abortion numbers in Texas to plummet.

The reality is that abortion facilities operate well below accepted medical standards. They are known to cut corners on women’s health and safety in order to maximize profit. Since these business have been largely without oversight, they have been able to get away with subjecting women to unsafe conditions and practices for decades.

The Texas law ordered abortion facilities to upgrade to medical standards. Instead of cleaning up, they sued. Now, they must close.

“Abortion facilities that cannot ensure the most basic care, such as sanitary facilities, proper drug handling, adequately licensed staff, and hallways that can accommodate a gurney in the event of an emergency are just too dangerous to stay open,” said Newman. “The abortion cartel has worked overtime to try to spin the facts into saying safety rules pose a danger to women’s health. Their propaganda attempts would be laughable if the result of injured or infected women and dead babies wasn’t so tragic.”

In 2010, Operation Rescue conducted an undercover investigation of abortion facilities in Texas and found that violations of health codes, informed consent, waiting periods, and parental notification was rampant. Disturbingly, Operation Rescue discovered that Whole Women’s Health abortion mills in McAllen and Austin were illegally dumping recognizable remains of aborted babies in public dumpsters, which posed a hazard to the general public. They were cited for these violations and heavily fined.

In 2013, Operation Rescue released shocking information and photos obtained by four former employees of Houston abortionist Douglas Karpen, that were evidence that babies were being born alive only to have their heads twisted nearly off their bodies during illegally late abortions. A grand jury mysteriously failed to indict Karpen despite the gruesome photos taken by clinic workers depicting large babies that had been nearly beheaded.

Nevertheless, that evidence prompted Texas Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session of the legislature for the purpose of passing HB2. Today, Karpen is prevented from legally conducting abortions due to the implementation of that law. The Karpen evidence also contributed to the passage of Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Acts in several states as well as the U.S. House.

“Documenting and exposing abortion abuses can serve as the foundation for safety regulations that can shut down substandard abortion mills and save lives. As a result of yesterday’s ruling we expect thousands of women will be spared the trauma and tragedy of abortion and that precious baby boys and girls will grace their lives with blessings,” said Newman. “Protecting the lives of women and their babies is what our work is all about.”

Read the Fifth Circuit Court Ruling

The California Catholic Conference filed a complaint Wednesday against the state's mandate that Catholic institutions cover all forms of voluntary direct abortion, including late-term and gender selection, stating that defending the sanctity of life is essential to Catholic beliefs.

"Catholic beliefs about life and human dignity animate and shape our Catholic ministries," said Bishop Robert McElroy, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and chair of the Institutional Concerns Committee of the California Catholic Conference

"It's why we oppose abortion, but it is also why Catholic schools provide education, Catholic hospitals care for the poor and vulnerable and why Catholic social services provide assistance to people and families in need. It goes to the core of our moral beliefs."

The compliant, sent earlier this week to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cites federal civil rights violations by the California Department of Managed Health Care concerning the abortion coverage.

It explains that an administrative directive issued in August to eight major health insurance plans dictates them to amend their health plan policies to remove any exclusions to the abortion coverage, arguing that abortions are "basic health care" and need to be included in insurance packages.

"This is a coercive and discriminatory action by the state of California," McElroy added. "This demand by the state was directly targeted at Catholic institutions like Santa Clara University, Loyola Marymount University, along with other California employers and citizens. It is a flagrant violation of their civil rights and deepest moral convictions, and is government coercion of the worst kind."

The complaint further states that this is the first time health plans in any state have been required to cover all abortions, even late-term abortions.

"This action effectively precludes California citizens and employers, who conscientiously believe that abortion destroys an unborn human life, from exercising their freedom to purchase a health plan that excludes coverage for abortions in which the life or health of the mother is not actually at risk," the complaint reads.

It further accuses abortion advocacy groups of inflicting pressure on the DMHC to take this action.

Loyola Marymount University and Santa Clara University are two major Roman Catholic institutions that were told they must pay for abortions as part of their insurance policies in August.

"… [T]he California Constitution prohibits health plans from discriminating against women who choose to terminate a pregnancy. Thus, all health plans must treat maternity services and legal abortion neutrally," the DMHC directive read.

Both the Life Legal Defense Foundation and the Alliance Defending Freedom have sent out another letter protesting the change.

"DMHC cannot deny approval to or otherwise penalize a health insurance plan for failing to provide coverage of some or all abortions and remain in compliance with the Weldon Amendment," the letter from the pro-life groups read.

"In its failed lawsuit against the amendment, California admitted that all of its departments are subject to the amendment due to some of those departments receiving over $40 billion in federal funds for programs in the areas of education, health, and employment."

A separate report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office in September showed that the the Affordable Care Act, also called "Obamacare," is providing abortion coverage, contrary to claims of some proponents of the health care law.

It found that 15 of 18 insurers providing qualified health plans ignore rules stating that the ACA should only cover abortions in the event of rape, incest, or health of the mother.

"Of the 18 issuers offering QHPs that cover non-excepted abortion services from which we obtained information, all but three issuers indicated that the benefit is not subject to any restrictions, limitations, or exclusions," the GAO report said.

"These 18 issuers offered a total of 246 unique QHPs that covered non-excepted abortion services — or 24 percent of the total number of QHPs covering non-excepted abortion services in the 28 states with no laws restricting the circumstances under which abortion services can be provided as a covered benefit."

by Steven Ertelt | LifeNews.com | 9/30/14 4:26 PM

When most Americans think of abortion, they frequently refer to the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case that legalized it. However, it is a lesser known case that helped make abortion so prevalent: Doe v. Bolton.

Sandra Cano, the “Mary Doe” of the infamous case,never wanted an abortion. But, like Norma McCorvey, the Roe of Roe v. Wade, she was used to topple pro-life laws across the country. Now, Cano is in the hospital in poor health.

Can had been critically ill in a hospital outside of Atlanta dealing with throat cancer,  sepsis and heart failure. Today, she passed away.

As one pro-life activist reports:

Today, Sandra Cano, Mary Doe in the Doe v. Bolton Supreme Court Decision a companion decision to Roe v. Wade has lost her battle with cancer.

According to her friends on Facebook- she passed away September 30, 2014

A post written on Cano’s Facebook page after her death reads, “She is more happy than anyone I know to be gracing heaven. If anyone knows how to enjoy it…it’ll be Sandra. WE love you, Sandra!!! Your name lives on as someone fought for the life of a child…not the right to kill it!!! Love you!!”

As the companion case to Roe v. Wade, the Doe decision saw the high court define “health” to include “all factors — physical emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age” that may prompt someone who have an abortion. Pro-life groups have since opposed health exceptions in any pro-life legislation because it would essentially all for all abortions to remain legal.

Cano eventually filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn Doe v. Bolton but was unsuccessful.

Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America told LifeNews:

Most young adults in this generation don’t know about the companion case to Roe v. Wade – Doe v. Bolton, in which Sandra Cano was Mary Doe. Both cases were instrumental in launching an entire movement dedicated to overturning both decisions and making abortion illegal. Doe v. Bolton specifically defined “health” as “all factors — physical emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age” which meant that a woman could essentially have an abortion for any reason whatsoever and claim it was for her “health.” Sandra Cano became pro-life however and she wanted nothing more than to see her case overturned. Her fight is one that that Students for Life of America will continue to fight for her. We pray for her soul and thank her for her fight to end abortion in this country. May she rest in peace.

Father Pavone of Priests for Life recalled that during a 1997 event at the National Memorial for the Unborn in Chattanooga, TN., Sandra said: “I pledge that as long as I have breath, I will strive to see abortion ended in America.”

Calling her statement “a lasting hope for our nation,” Father Pavone said: “Sandra’s work to overturn that devastating decision that was based on lies will not end with her death. When life ultimately triumphs over death, Sandra will share in that victory.”

Cano told the Catholic Register, “It’s a nightmare to be connected to a case that I never wanted to be connected to. Doe v. Bolton allows abortion up to the ninth month. This case takes children’s lives.”

“Back in 1970,” Cano begins, “I had a very complicated marriage and had two children in foster care. I was pregnant and wanted to get my babies back from foster care. I was poor, uneducated and ignorant. My life was very unstable. I was in a survival state. I went to Atlanta Legal Aid to get a divorce. Whoever was there to try to help me, I trusted. That’s how I became unknowingly involved with Doe v. Bolton. Never once did I know that we were going to kill babies.

“I can’t understand how a case like this could go to the Supreme Court without anyone knowing or speaking to me to find out if what the attorney was presenting to the court was true. I was so ignorant I didn’t know that there were two cases that legalized abortion.

“I ran away to Oklahoma to keep from having an abortion. They knew I was against abortion. Grady Memorial Hospital said I had gone before a panel of nine doctors and nurses to seek an abortion. I never sought an abortion. The hospital has no records because I never went to the hospital.

“It was only later that I learned that, through Margie Pitt Hames, I had sued Georgia Baptist Hospital to have an abortion.”

The Register asked how she discovered the truth and she replied, “In 1974, I went to Georgia Right to Life to try to find someone to help me. I told them that I was the woman who was involved in the abortion law, but didn’t know what it was about. They sent me to Fayetteville to seek help. On and off over the years, I would come forward, but when you don’t have money or people willing to help, a lot of people think you’re someone off the nut wagon.

“In the 1980s, I talked to an Atlanta Journal and Constitution newspaper reporter. She told me I had to prove who I was. I asked, “How do you do that?” She told me I had to go down to the court to verify that I was the person involved in the case. When I did that, they told me I had to go to the Federal Archives building. When I did that, they gave me this humongous book to look through. I didn’t understand half of it. I was out of my league. There was also a sealed envelope. I wanted to open it, but couldn’t. They told me that I would have to go to the court to have my records unsealed. Someone at the court showed me how to petition the court to unseal the records.

“A week later, Judge Owen Foster called me. He told me, “I don’t normally do this, but think you need a lawyer. We’re going to be hearing your case.” I found an attorney and went down to the court to unseal the records. Margie Pitt Hames didn’t want me to open the records. After unsealing the records I wrote to the Supreme Court. They said that the statute of limitations had passed.”

“They connected my name to a case that I never knew about in the beginning, never participated in, never believed in. I carried a guilt for many, many years. I was just a pawn,” Cano told The Blaze.