Posted on 05/02/2005 8:03:03 AM PDT by truthandlife
Workers at an Orlando abortion clinic are being accused of refusing to help a mother screaming for help after her baby was born alive. The baby died shortly thereafter. A legal group in Florida says as a result, the clinic may be slapped with a lawsuit. Other pro-life groups are calling for enforcement of a federal statute that requires doctors to render medical help to infants who survive an abortion.
Earlier this month, Angele -- a single mother in her thirties -- entered the EPOC clinic in Orlando seeking an abortion. On April 1, she was given drugs to start the process and told to return the following day. The next day, Angele took more medicine, went to the clinic, and was directed to a room where she eventually gave birth to a baby boy who she claims started moving. However, she claims clinic workers refused to help her child or call 9-1-1. The baby, who Angele named Rowan, died shortly after paramedics arrived at the clinic.
Mat Staver is president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel, which has filed two complaints against the clinic, citing the complete absence of a doctor during the abortion procedure and complete lack of post-operative care. The abortionists named in the complaints are Dr. Harry Perper, who LC claims administered the procedure on the first day but was not present on the second day, and Dr. James Pendergraft, owner and supervisor of the clinic.
"We are hopeful that these complaints will lead to immediate change in the form of discipline against the doctors and revocation of the abortion license for the clinic," Staver says in a press release. "But we are also hopeful that these complaints will serve as the catalyst for long-term change."
The attorney explains that, in his opinion, abortion clinics are the least regulated medical facilities in the Sunshine State. "It is a travesty that tattoo parlors are more heavily regulated than abortion clinics," he points out. "That needs to change."
Staver's group has filed the complaints on behalf of Angele. "In Angele's darkest circumstances of her life, she assumed that abortion was the answer to her problems," he says. "But when she saw her son born -- especially born alive -- the emotions and the darkness of the past were erased in a moment."
Angele, who Staver says was encouraged to get an abortion by a Christian counselor, now wants to warn others about supposed "safe and painless" abortion procedures.
"She now understands that she's done a horrible thing to abort her child," Staver says. "She also understands that no one intervened to help her child. And this is the story, I think, Angele wants people to understand: that abortion is never the choice, never the option. It is always the choice to choose life rather than death."
Choice for Life Denied Two pro-life groups are making the point that this tragic incident demonstrates that abortion clinics are apparently not as committed to "choice" as they claim to be. Operation Rescue and the Christian Defense Coalition are calling for a full investigation into the actions of the clinic personnel.
Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition calls it "barbarous" to realize that Rowan could have been saved if employees at the clinic had responded in a professional and timely manner. Even though Angele wanted to save her child, he says, the "culture of death" at the clinic prevailed. "We are calling for a full investigation in this horrific death and pray that action is taken that would prevent it from ever happening again," Mahoney states.
Operation Rescue's Troy Newman concurs, calling for the prosecution of "all those involved in this horrible crime." He says he is hopeful officials conducting the investigation use all possible legal avenues that are available to them, including the Born Alive Infant Protection Act passed by Congress three years ago. Just last week, the Bush administration said it would start enforcing that statute, which requires doctors to attempt to keep alive a baby who survives an abortion procedure.
When I read that line, I couldn't help but notice how it parallels the usually leftist line when they discuss the manufacture of firearms or the sale of such as being under-regulated.
This disturbs me.
Greatly.
"In Angele's darkest circumstances of her life, she assumed that abortion was the answer to her problems," he says. "But when she saw her son born -- especially born alive -- the emotions and the darkness of the past were erased in a moment."
Angele, who Staver says was encouraged to get an abortion by a Christian counselor, now wants to warn others about supposed "safe and painless" abortion procedures."
"Christian" counselor????? I wonder what kind of "Christian" counselor would possibly recommend baby killing?
Of course if they HAD saved the baby, they'd probably be facing a lawsuit for a botched abortion. ("Wrongful Life?")
i couldn't agree more!
You had it right the first time.
The Born Alive Infants Protection Act was signed by President Bush in 2002.
http://www.nrlc.org/Federal/Born_Alive_Infants/
(a) In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the words ''person'', ''human being'', ''child'', and ''individual'', shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development.
(b) As used in this section, the term ''born alive'', with respect to a member of the species homo sapiens, means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother of that member, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut, and regardless of whether the expulsion or extraction occurs as a result of natural or induced labor, cesarean section, or induced abortion.
Other than the obvious, there is something not right about this story, somethings that don't add up...
Planned Parenthood, a frequent critic of the "religious right," has hired a chaplain to "articulate the spiritual dimensions of sexuality and reproduction."
The Rev. Ignacio Castuera, a Methodist, will fill the newly created post, from which he will "act as a public spokesperson to promote Planned Parenthood's mission and vision," the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) announced earlier this week.
"Reverend Castuera will bring to the PPFA family his wealth of experience in ministry, especially his efforts over the last 24 years to address sexuality issues. His expertise in offering spiritual insight and guidance to the reproductive health movement is invaluable," said Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt.
At a recent pro-abortion rally in Texas, Feldt reportedly said that Planned Parenthood created the chaplain position to counter the perception that most Christians oppose abortion.
The Rev. Dr. Ignacio Castuera currently serves as Senior Pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church in the Watts community of Los Angeles. He holds degrees from Compton College; California State University, Long Beach; and a Doctor of Religion degree from the Claremont School of Theology, Planned Parenthood said.
Rev. Castuera is described as a "strong advocate for choice" and a "staunch supporter" of Planned Parenthood, who has participated in "clinic defense" and served on the PPFA board of directors. He has been a member of the PPFA Clergy Advisory Board since its inception in 1994.
Rev. Castuera is on record as saying that a fetus is not a child.
According to the Planned Parenthood press release, Castuera "will play a pivotal role in communicating the theological justification for choice, sexuality, and contraception to the Planned Parenthood community and the general public.
"He will also be available to provide advice to volunteer and staff leadership on moral and ethical issues around our mission. In addition, Dr. Castuera will work with affiliates to expand their relationships with religious leaders and organizations in their communities.""
No abortion clinic in america will lift a finger to help a child born alive... which happens more often than ANYONE in the industry of death will ever admit to!
For them to lift a finger would be to set precident that it is indeed a life, and threaten their livelihood. So many young women lied to so often on this matter... it is shameful and obscene.
at the very least, they should be locked in solitary for the rest of their lives.
or better yet, executed. what these sick animals do is premeditated murder, therefore, we the people must treat said animals like the serial killers they are. why are the courts disregarding the spirit of "Equal Justice Under Law?" And furthermore, why are we as a society letting it continue?
How Long must the Innocents be denied the justice they deserve? This case just proves the utter cruelty of the abortion mill.
And merely putting them under scrutiny only results in a silent imprimatur on such abhorrent behavior. It is indeed a blazing example of the misguided "no really means yes" philosophy. Ladies and Gentlemen, we can't just let it go under scrutiny, we must work peacefully to bring this practice to an end.
How much more convincing evidence do the Courts need before they recognize the humanity of the fetus? Are the fetii less people solely because they are not yet born? It is indeed time we seek justice for whom it is due--the innocent children murdered in the names of "choice" and "convenience."
I'm sorry, but "under scrutiny" just doesn't cut it for me!!!
I am wondering how long it is before someone takes a page from the gun-suits and sues the manufacturer of some medical device used in abortions in an attempt to force them to stop procucing the equipment.
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