University of Wisconsin Spends $59K to Train Students to Learn Doing Abortions

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 1, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

University of Wisconsin Spends $59K to Train Students to Learn Doing Abortions

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 15
, 2010

Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) — More documents a pair of pro-life groups have uncovered using freedom of Information Act requests show the University of Wisconsin may be illegally funding internships for medical students at abortion centers.

The new documents obtained via an open records request by Pro-Life Wisconsin and the Alliance Defense Fund reveal that, since 2007, UW has spent more than $58,878 paying for abortion training.

State law prohibits the use of taxpayer funds to pay for elective abortions or to abortion centers.

James Dechene, senior vice president and general counsel for UWHCA, sent a letter to the pro-life groups in response to the open records request.

“Medical residents from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority [UWHCA] participate in training at the Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin (PPWI) facility in Madison, WI… UWHCA continues to pay its residents while they are in training at PPWI,” he explained.

Peggy Hamill, state director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, told LifeNews.com today she believes the actions constitute a violation of state law.

“Wisconsin law is very clear: No state agency can fund abortion or abortion programs,” Hamill said. “The University of Wisconsin and its Hospital are not above the law.”

She points to Statute 20.927 of Wisconsin law stating, “No funds of this state or of any… agency of this state… shall be authorized for or paid to a physician or surgeon or a hospital, clinic or other medical facility for the performance of an abortion.”

Hamill also points to Statute 20.9275, which prohibits spending state funds on programs that provide, encourage, or refer for abortions.

The records show medical residents in the UW School of Medicine Ob/Gyn Department have two four-week rotations at Planned Parenthood, where they view and participate in abortions.

The records also contain a November 14, 2008 email, in which Carl Getto, M.D., the senior vice president of medical affairs at UWHC, stated, “UWHC has been paying for the [Planned Parenthood] rotation to date. We will continue to do so. Please let Planned Parenthood know.”

Virginia Zignego, communications director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, said pr-life graduates of the university should be upset.

“As a UW graduate, I am appalled that UW’s proud legacy of excellence in sports, music, research and nationally ranked programs is stained with the destruction of innocent human life,” “UW’s blood runs red, indeed.”

The groups also point to a November-December 2008 email exchange where Gloria Frane, an employee of the UW School of Medicine Ob/Gyn Department, stated that UW paid abortion practitioner Caryn Dutton and two companions to travel to the University of North Carolina to view how late-term abortions are done there.

Frane concludes the email with, “I hope the ladies’ trip re: the pregnancy [termination] was a success!”

Related web sites:
Students abortion rotation

Signed contract – https://www.prolifewisconsin.org/releases/MOU_PPWI_UW.pdf

Letter – https://www.prolifewisconsin.org/PDFs/UWHCA_PP.pdf

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