Ohio Officials Close Late-Term Abortion Business That Broke State Law

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 16, 2013   |   1:19PM   |   Cincinnati, OH

Officials in Ohio have closed a late-term abortion business that broke state law and put women’s health at risk by not following state laws requiring abortion practitioners to have admitting privileges at a local hospital to help women who are injured by botched abortions.

That failure to obtain a transfer agreement, which has been an issue for years for the abortion facility in question, played a key role in shutting down the abortion clinic run by the abortion practitioner credited with making the partial-birth abortion procedure a household name.

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, failed to obtain either a transfer agreement or a variance

The Lebanon Road Surgery Center is the most recent of 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.”

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For years Haskell has operated only with the help of a variance issued by the Ohio Department of Health that allows Haskell to skirt the hospital requirement. He currently has no hospital privileges. Instead, he has an agreement with two physicians – to provide hospital care in the event of a woman suffers a medical emergency at his abortion clinic. At least one physician that Haskell has used in the past had a history of gross negligence and had been ordered to halt the performance of all obstetric procedures.

Operation Rescue has documented four medical emergencies at Haskell’s two Ohio abortion clinics, two of which occurred just last year, creating serious concerns for patient safety.

Ohio Right to Life offers special thanks to Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati and Elizabeth’s New Life Center for all of their due diligence in ensuring the abortion industry follows state laws and health regulations. Together, the pro-life leaders will continue to ensure that the Lebanon Road Surgery Center follows Ohio law and does not operate without a license.

Ohio Right to Life thanks Paula Westwood, Executive Director of Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati, and Vivian Koob, Executive Director of Elizabeth’s New Life Center, for their pro-life leadership in the Greater Cincinnati area.

“Countless people have worked and prayed for the closing of this abortion facility, and will continue to do so,” said Paula Westwood, Executive Director, Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati. “And Ohio Right to Life has provided invaluable support, assistance, and leadership in this matter.”
She told LifeNews: “Hamilton County is the third highest county for abortion deaths in the state. Three abortion centers have already closed in Ohio this year, and the goal is to soon add Greater Cincinnati’s abortion providers to this number.”

To read the Ohio Department of Health’s Report and Recommendation, click here.