By BEN NUCKOLS • Associated Press • September 9, 2010
Authorities in New Jersey are seeking to suspend or
revoke the medical license of a doctor accused of
ferrying patients to Maryland to complete late-term
abortions.
Dr. Steven Brigham has already been cited for
practicing medicine without a license in Maryland.
On Wednesday, the New Jersey Attorney General's
office filed a complaint accusing him of illegally
performing late-term abortions.
Brigham was not authorized to abort fetuses older
than 14 weeks in New Jersey. Maryland law does not
specifically restrict second-trimester abortions.
New Jersey authorities accuse Brigham of initiating
abortions for three patients in Voorhees, then
leading them in a caravan to Elkton, Md., where the
procedures were concluded. Documents show
another physician botched the abortion of one of
those patients, forcing her to undergo emergency
surgery.
On Wednesday, attorneys for two doctors whose
licenses have been suspended after a botched a
bortion said their clients will be vindicated.
Dr. Nicola Riley and Dr. George Shepard were
scheduled to appear before the Maryland Board of
Physicians, but neither showed up. Riley's attorneys
asked for a postponement of the hearing, which was
granted. Shepard's attorney did not appear before
the board, and Shepard's suspension was upheld.
Both were employees of Brigham.
The Board of Physicians says Riley botched the
abortion and critically injured the 18-year-old
patient.
Riley's attorney, Christopher Brown, says there are
two sides to the story. Shepard's attorney, Jason
Allison, says his client's license should be
reinstated.
No comments:
Post a Comment