Abortion in Cincinnati

Notorious Abortionist Martin Haskell Failed to Adhere to State Law

Today, Ohio Right to Life obtained the Ohio Department of Health's Report and Recommendation regarding the revocation of the license of Lebanon Road Surgery Center, an abortion clinic near Cincinnati. A state health examiner affirmed the order to revoke the license after this abortion clinic, operated by the notorious late-term abortionist Martin Haskell because of the failure to obtain either a transfer agreement or a variance.

The Lebanon Road Surgery Center is the most recent of 2013's five Ohio abortion clinics closed or slated to close. This news comes less than 48 hours after Ohio Right to Life revealed that another late-term abortionist closed his clinic in Cleveland.

"We are gratified to see yet another late-term abortionist shutting down," said Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life. "As a result of this Health Department order, Martin Haskell, a strong proponent and former practitioner of the controversial and deadly partial-birth abortion procedure, will no longer be able to abort children and jeopardize women's health in Hamilton County." 

According to Ohio law, Lebanon Road Surgery Center exists as an Ambulatory Surgical Facility and because of this legal status, the clinic is not a full-service medical facility. To operate legally, Lebanon Road Surgery Center must have a transfer agreement with a full-service hospital to handle all cases of abortion complications against the mother. In the case that an abortion facility is unable to acquire a transfer agreement, it can apply for a variance (exception). Lebanon Road Surgery Center failed to obtain either.

"Simply put, the southwest Ohio medical community chooses not to do business with this late term abortion provider and consequently, Haskell cannot operate his abortion business legally," continued Gonidakis. "Undeniably, the fewer abortions Haskell can execute, the safer Ohio's women and children will be."

In a historic effort to become the first city in America to ban late-term abortions beginning at 20 weeks after fertilization, the campaign "ABQ Voters for Late-Term Abortion Ban" launched this week.

On November 19th, the citizens of Albuquerque will cast their votes on the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Ordinance which, according to a recent poll, is supported by 54% of the residents of Albuquerque. A grassroots coalition gathered 27,000 signatures in just 20 days to place this ordinance on the ballot.

"While putting forth this ordinance has been a local grass-roots effort, this election has important national implications. We believe that the good people of Albuquerque will rise to the occasion and do the right thing to protect these babies who are just a few short weeks or, in some cases, days from birth," said Tara Shaver, Chairperson of ABQ Voters for Late-Term Abortion Ban.

New Mexico is one of only nine states that allow post-viability abortions. Each week, women come to Albuquerque from all over the world to have abortions in their fifth month of pregnancy and beyond.

Today, abortionist Bruce Norman's bid to continue performing abortions at the unlicensed All Women's abortion clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, was denied. The abortion facility has been permanently shut down. The clinic, formerly doing business as New Woman, All Women, had continued operating for over a year after its closure by the Alabama Department of Public Health for multiple violations.

The decision, handed down by Circuit Judge Joseph L. Boohaker in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama -- Birmingham Division, was one sentence long. Life Legal Defense Foundation had filed a "friends of the court" brief opposing Norman's request for reconsideration in the matter of his ban on performing abortions.

"At the original trial, abortionist Norman admitted that all he provided by way of medical 'services' were abortions, by his own testimony he conceded that these abortions violated the law at a location shut down for numerous health code violations," explained Life Legal Defense Foundation Executive Director Dana Cody. "It is amazing that a motion for reconsideration was even filed. If I was in Bruce Norman's shoes I would be embarrassed, not emboldened to continue..."

The Brady Amendment was filed by victim Heather Surovik, whose son Brady was killed by a drunk driver at 38 weeks, weighing 8 pounds 2 ounces. Colorado law determined that the drunk driver could not be charged with Brady's death because he was not yet born and thus not considered a person. "The Brady Amendment requires Colorado to recognize that there are two victims in cases like mine," explained Heather Surovik.

The recent passage of H.B. 1154, a "Crimes Against Pregnant Women Act", has not alleviated the need for The Brady Amendment. Surovik continued: "I opposed H.B. 1154 because it is one of the most deceptive bills to be passed in Colorado. It has very little to do with justice for pregnant victims of crime. Instead, it protects abortion clinics. We need the Brady Amendment to pass now more than ever. It is time for Colorado to recognize that there are two victims in these terrible crimes against pregnant women."

Volunteers for the amendment numbered in the thousands, and hundreds of churches got on board to support the petition. "I am trying to pass this amendment to be a voice for Brady," added Surovik. "I'm very thankful for everyone who has volunteered and everyone who signed the petition – every one of them agree that Brady's life matters."

Brady Ministries has submitted 139,650 signatures to the Colorado Secretary of State's office, far more than the 86,105 signatures required. 139,650 surpasses the highest number of signatures collected for any pro-life ballot initiative in the state of Colorado.

The amendment states "In the interest of the protection of pregnant mothers and their unborn children from criminal offenses and negligent and wrongful acts, the words "person" and "child" in the Colorado Criminal Code and the Colorado Wrongful Death Act must include unborn human beings."