by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 20, 2004
Montgomery, AL (LifeNews.com) -- An abortion practitioner who
killed an Alabama woman in a botched abortion was stripped of his medical
license by the state last week. Meanwhile, Malachy Dehenre, who also
had his right to practice revoked in Mississippi, says he probably won't
perform abortions again.
On Wednesday, the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama revoked Dehenre's medical license for a period of one year.
The board called his actions in several cases "immoral, unprofessional or dishonorable," and said he endangered the well-being of his patients through "gross malpractice."
In November 2003, a Birmingham, Alabama woman died just 10 hours after DeHenre performed an abortion. In February 2001, a 22-year-old woman required a hysterectomy after an abortion he performed, and three other cases of injured women were noted from 2001-2003.
In an interview with the Associated Press after the board's decision, Dehenre responded, "I don't know what is immoral in doing what is legal in the country."
DeHenre said abortion has become "politically charged" and blamed pro-life advocates for wanting to overturn the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
Meanwhile, Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure officials are scheduled to meet on January 20 to determine if DeHenre's temproarily suspended license should be yanked permanently.
DeHenre has been performing abortions in both Southern states.
If he wants his Alabama license back, DeHenre
would have to pay a $20,000 fine and attend 52 hours of medical education
classes in identifying and treating post-operation complications. He
would not be able to have his license to practice reinstated in Mississippi.
The Mississippi suspension stopped him from performing abortions at
the New Woman Medical Center in Jackson and caused the facility to close
in August. That leaves the state with only one other abortion business.
DeHenre told the Associated Press he has done an estimated 35,000 abortions since the late 1990s.
Mississippi's statewide pro-life group says it is aware of other cases where women have been injured by abortion, in addition to those addressed by the Alabama and Mississippi authorities.
Applauding the suspension decisions, Pro-Life Mississippi said in a statement, DeHenre "is now being held accountable for the injuries and death to women at abortion clinics and we thank God that both women and their unborn babies are now safe from this abortionist."
Related Sites:
Pro-Life Mississippi – http://www.prolifemississippi.org
