The abortion practitioner who made infamous the partial-birth abortion technique has been allowed to keep one of his abortion clinics in southwest Ohio open eve though he is breaking state law.
Specifically, Haskell’s clinic continues to operate without a transfer agreement with any area hospital. Such an agreement would allow for timely care for women who suffer from botched abortions and need urgent medical attention.
A local judge in southwest Ohio has issued a ruling allowing the abortion clinic run by infamous abortion practitioner Martin Haskell, credited with popularizing the partial-birth abortion procedure to remain open.
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jerry Metz has extended a stay permitting late-term abortionist Martin Haskell’s Women’s Med Center (aka Lebanon Road Surgery Center) in Sharonville, Ohio to remain open. According to officials with Righ tot Life of Cincinnati, the stay is extended while Judge Metz reviews a Magistrate’s decision upholding the Ohio Department of Health’s order to close for failing to meet lawful health and safety standards for patients.
“After the ODH order in January, the Women’s Med Center remained open under a stay of execution granted by Judge Metz – the judge to whom the case was originally assigned. Now that Judge Metz has extended the stay, the Women’s Med Center still remains open to operate outside the law without meeting medical safety standards required of all ambulatory surgical facilities in the state,” the pro-life group complains. ”
Magistrate Bachman’s decision, formally docketed today, July 10, 2014, states: “The Stay granted in this matter granted on January 31, 2014 shall end at the close of business (4 p.m.) on the day this Magistrate’s Decision is docketed.”
Judge Metz is responsible for the final action to accept, deny, or modify the Magistrate’s decision. Attorneys for the abortion business have 14 days to file objections to the Magistrate’s decision for Judge Metz to review.
“The protection granted this abortion provider to keep operating outside the law at the risk of women’s health and safety is astounding,” said Paula Westwood, Executive Director, Right to Life of Greater Cincinnati. “Must a patient tragedy occur before justice is upheld?”
Officials with the pro-life group Operation Rescue were equally upset.
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“We echo the statement from Paula Westwood of Greater Cincinnati Right to Life. It is unconscionable for Judge Metz to allow Haskell’s abortion mill to remain open, fully knowing that it is operating in violation of the law and is posing a danger to women. This is not over yet, and eventually we expect common sense to prevail and this dangerous abortion business will be forced to close,” they said.
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 private 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. After the Ohio Department of Health ordered the facility to close in January, the facility appealed that ruling in court.
Late-term abortionist, Martin Haskell, who owns Lebanon Road Surgery Center, has performed abortions for more than 30 years. He is notorious for his advocacy of partial-birth abortion and is credited for popularizing the now banned and illegal procedure invented by a California abortionist. With the closing of Haskell’s clinic, only one abortion facility r
