Abortion Practitioner Quits Doing Abortions in Alabama

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 6, 2012   |   1:55PM   |   Birmingham, AL

Just two weeks after two women were injured in botched abortions at the New Woman All Women abortion facility in Birmingham, Alabama, a Georgia abortion practitioner with financial ties to the center quit doing abortions there.

As LifeNews reported, two women were transported from a Alabama abortion clinic in January after paramedics had to hand-lift a partially clad woman from a narrow doorway and down several steps to an awaiting gurney. A second woman was wheeled to her gurney in a wheelchair down a trash-strewn alley only to discover that the rear entrance of the clinic could not accommodate them.

Now, abortion practitioner Ivan Diamond has stopped doing abortions in Birmingham under pressure from pro-life advocates, according to Fr. Terry Gensemer, director of CEC for Life, who met with a representative of Diamond’s employer in Atlanta, Georgia, last week. His leaving makes it so there is only one part-time abortion practitioner at the Birmingham abortion facility.

Diamond has financial affiliations with Diane Derzis, who is listed as the owner of New Woman and of the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi.

Troy Newman, the president of Operation Rescue, told LifeNews that, in his experience, “clinics like New Woman have a narrow hold on staying in business. They have two possible botched abortions for which they are being investigated, a dilapidated building, and one of their abortionists jumping ship.”

Newman has been consulting with Fr. Genesmer concerning their efforts to close the dangerous abortion clinic through peaceful and legal means.

“While ceasing the practice of abortion in Alabama is a good first step, Diamond should completely divest himself from the abortion business and stop profiting from the taking of innocent human life,” he said. “We are praying that New Woman’s last abortionist will also quit amid a growing investigation into dangerous conditions at that abortion mill.”

On the morning of February 2, after several unsuccessful attempts to contact Northside Women Specialists–Diamond’s employer–CEC For Life traveled to Atlanta with the intention of bringing public awareness to Diamond’s weekend abortion practice in Birmingham.

“We called Northside several times,” reports CEC For Life assistant Sarah Howell. “They didn’t call back, so we sent a letter. When that went unnoticed we knew we’d have to picket.”

But according to CEC For Life Director Fr. Terry Gensemer, the group arrived to discover that their picket would not be needed.

Before beginning their demonstration, Fr. Gensemer and two other members of CEC For Life decided to enter the building and make the OB/GYN office aware of their intent. The group was immediately ushered into a back office by the receptionist and amicably greeted by the Northside Practice Manager.

“We received a letter,” the Practice Manager explained, “and, in light of that letter, we would like you to know that Dr. Diamond will no longer be performing abortions in Alabama.”

“We were stunned at first,” Fr. Gensemer comments. “We assumed they had chosen to ignore our letter. We would really like to thank Northside for choosing life and the integrity of their practice over the atrocious ‘side business’ of Diamond. Hopefully Northside will continue in its mission to provide high-quality care for women and preborn children.”