Post-Gosnell Inspections Close Two Problematic Abortion Centers

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 10, 2011   |   11:58AM   |   Philadelphia, PA

After the national controversy the deplorable conditions and brutal infanticides at the abortion center Kermit Gosnell ran drew national attention, Pennsylvania officials began cracking down on abortion center inspections.

The inspections, which hadn’t taken place in over a decade, turned up problems at two abortion centers also located in Philadelphia and the owner and operator of the centers has decided to shut them down and retire as opposed to correcting the problems.

Soleiman Soli, who runs two abortion businesses known as Abortion as an Alternative Inc in Bensalem and the Germantown section of Philadelphia, were the subject of scathing reports from state health inspectors recently. The Associated Press indicates Department of Health officials said Soli responded to the problems by retiring.

At Soli’s abortion centers, officials found drugs that had expired decades ago, equipment that was not adequate to properly care for patients or did not function properly, record-keeping was not up to current standards, and the abortion center staff did not properly dispose of the bodies of unborn children killed in abortions. Soli did not have a written transfer agreement to have local hospitals accept patients in cases of a botched abortion requiring immediate medical care.

The inspection report from the October 26 probe into Soli’s clinics also found the abortion practitioner had no way to revive patients who may lose consciousness following a botched abortion, and Soli did not understand how to use the abortion center’s oxygen tank — taking him and a secretary 10 minutes to figure out how to use it during a test conducted in front of state health inspectors. The report indicated the mask for the oxygen tank was found covered in dust.

The report also found equipment was not sterilized properly, and an ultrasound machine, microscope and cuffs used for measuring blood pressure were not inspected, certified or calibrated to be used properly.

At his abortion center in Bensalem, inspectors found parts of the bodies of unborn children left in unsecured containers outside the building “for an undetermined length of time with potential exposure to the public,” according to AP. Inspectors also inquired about sample fetal tissue stored in a cabinet in a room where abortions were done and Soli could not explain why the samples were located there other than to say it appeared they were there to be observed under a microscope.

Soli placed his lunch in the same refrigerator as drugs and the bathroom in one abortion building lacked ceiling tiles and left pipes exposed and inspectors indicated: “Opened, uncapped needles were also observed lying directly on the floor under the cabinet with the identified medications.”

In an email to the Associated Press from Soli’s attorney Stanley Milavec, Soli reportedly quit doing abortions and permanently closed his abortion centers on November 19.

“Soli served his patients for more than 53 years as a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. He retired last year,” the email said.

AP also indicated Soli’s medical licensed expired at the end of December and the Department of State placed it on inactive status last month.

Prosecutors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania announced earlier this month that they are seeking the death penalty for abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell, who faces charges related to killing a woman in a botched abortion and killing babies in infanticides. Gosnell was charged along with several family members and staffers who worked at his abortion center and were involved in either the failed abortion, the infanticides (which number in the hundreds but for which Gosnell and company have been charged on seven counts), or in relation to covering up and crimes and hiding obstructing justice.

Gosnell plead not guilty today at the arraignment hearing, where Gosnell’s lawyer, Jack McMahon, called the death penalty pursuit a waste.

Delaware officials suspended one of the Delaware abortion practitioners associated with Gosnell, who also worked one day a week at the Atlantic Women’s Medical Services abortion business.

The abortion industry has been forced to suspend two abortion businesses that employed embattled abortion practitioner Kermit Gosnell, who has been the subject of national controversy over his abortion business in Philadelphia.

Following revelations that Gosnell is associatedwith two other abortion centers in Louisiana and Delaware, the National Abortion Federation made the decision to suspend the memberships of both. Atlantic Women’s Medical Services, the Delaware abortion business that employed Gosnell one day a week to do abortions, and the Delta Clinic abortion center of Baton Rouge, have both had their memberships suspended. Leroy Brinkley owns both abortion businesses. Atlantic operates abortion centers in Wilmington and Dover.

Delaware law does not require inspections of abortion centers but Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden said his office will launch a “wide-ranging” investigation of Gosnell and probe his work at the Delaware abortion facility given the vast problems at his Pennsylvania abortion center.

Gosnell has been charged with eight counts of murder and several of his staff at the abortion center, including his wife and sister-in-law, have been charged as well in the case with assisting in botched abortions, practicing medicine without a license or covering up the actions of those who did. The counts include grisly infanticides that involved Gosnell snipping the spines with scissors of babies who had purposefully been prematurely born so they could be killed moments later.

Gosnell has been denied bail while the case against him moves forward. Women have spoken out about their treatment and one woman says she was drugged and tied up and forced to have an abortion.

Authorities searching the facility last year found bags and bottles holding aborted babies scattered around the building, jars containing babies’ severed feet lining a shelf, as well as filthy, unsanitary furniture and equipment.

The grand jury investigation also shows state officials did nothingwhen reports came in about problems at Gosnell’s abortion center, which has upset incoming pro-life Governor Tom Corbett who fired several state employees.