Pennsylvania Abortion Business Will Reopen After Medical License Suspended

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Mar 29, 2006   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pennsylvania Abortion Business Will Reopen After Medical License Suspended Email this article
Printer friendly page

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 29, 2006

Erie, PA (LifeNews.com) — A Pennsylvania abortion business in this northwestern city will reopen after being closed since last April following the suspension of the abortion practitioner’s medical license.

Harvey Brookman had his medical license suspended after he was charged with unprofessional conduct and negligence. A Yardley, Pennsylvania resident, he was unable to practice medicine for six months.

A Pennsylvania Department of Health spokeswoman told the Associated Press that American Women’s Services notified it on Tuesday of its plans to go back into business.

The abortion center did not provide a date for the reopening and officials there did not return calls for comment.

The abortion practitioner had worked at the American Women’s Services abortion business in Erie from the time it opened in September of 2003. He also worked at an abortion facility in the Philadelphia suburb of King of Prussia.

Brookman was charged by the state with practicing without malpractice insurance, giving expired drugs to patients, permitting unlicensed staff to administer drugs, failing to check his patients’ age and identity, and conducting abortions without a licensed registered nurse present.

Attorneys with the state re-filed an amended list of seven disciplinary charges against the abortionist. The latest charge of professional misconduct notes Brookman perforated a teenager’s uterus and colon during an abortion at the King of Prussia facility. Brookman faced a lawsuit filed by the girl.

The abortion facility is located on the same floor as the office of People for Life, the local pro-life group. The organization indicated it would resume protests there.

The local chapter of the pro-abortion National Organization of Women told AP it was glad the abortion business will reopen. Otherwise, women from the area would have to drive to Pittsburgh or Cleveland for abortions.

Brookman also worked for two years as an “independent contractor physician” at the State College Medical Services abortion business in State College.

The abortion practitioner became the target of a state inquiry after Centre County Citizens Concerned for Human Life, a pro-life group, filed complaints with the state Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs and the state Department of Health.

Susan Rogacs of Centre County Citizens told the local press that Brookman was not licensed to offer medical services to the public.

"We checked the state department website. It said he only had an active-retired license," meaning that he could treat only himself and family members, Rogacs said earlier this year.

Brookman has had a number of other license problems in other states.

He surrendered his New Jersey license in 1996. The same year, New York revoked his license. Pennsylvania initially suspended his license in 1995.

According to the New York Department of Health, Brookman routinely examined the uteruses of pregnant women without a medical reason. He was also found guilty of maintaining inadequate patient records and altering others.

Related web sites:
People for Life – https://www.peopleforlife.org