If you live in Kansas or surrounding areas, you are invited to attend a vitally important planning meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2008, at 6:30 PM, where we will be discussing the next step in our efforts to bring late-term abortionist George R. Tiller to justice.

The meeting will be held at OR’s new headquarters located at 3013 E. Central Ave. in Wichita, (in the old Central Women’s Services abortion building).

Please come and learn what you can do to help expose and close Tiller’s dubious late-term abortion business.

“We did not put all of our eggs in one basket. Even though the grand jury decision not to indict Tiller was disappointing, it certainly is not the end. Other, effective efforts are underway or are about to be launched. Please attend this critical meeting and be a part of these efforts to save lives and seek justice.” - OR President Troy Newman

For more information contact Cheryl at 316-516-3034.

San Diego, CA — Unlicensed abortionist Bertha Bugarin made a court appearance on Wednesday in San Diego District Court where she faces 10 felony counts of practicing medicine without a license. Her arraignment was postponed until July 10, 2008.

The local Fox News affiliate is reporting that the Chula Vista office of Clinica Medica Para La Mujer has been closed by the state. Phone calls to that clinic made on Thursday morning were not answered. However, area pro-lifer Luis Mendoza believes the closure may be temporary.

Bugarin was arrested after nine women came forward to report that they had received abortions from Bugarin, who has no medical background. Many of the women reported complications that landed at least one woman in the hospital.

In addition to the Chula Vista clinic, Bugarin operated four other abortion mills in Los Angeles County, where she faces 18 additional counts of practicing medicine without a license. Those clinics are being kept open by the notorious abortionist Nolan Jones, who has his own problems, including numerous cases of Medical Board disciplinary action for botched abortions. He filed for bankruptcy for substantial amounts of debt in 2003. Jones has bounced around Southern California abortion mills for years, moving on as clinics close.

The Fox News affiliate broadcast file footage from a news conference held by Operation Rescue Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger in 2000 outside the Chula Vista abortion mill, asking for authorities to close the clinic.

“We are relieved that the clinic has closed, but it shouldn’t have taken eight years to do it,” said Sullenger. “We pray that Ms. Bugarin will be swiftly brought to justice and that all of her abortion mills would permanently close.”

Wichita, KS – The citizen-called grand jury that investigated late-term abortionist George R. Tiller was dismissed today without issuing an indictment. Operation Rescue President Troy Newman released this statement concerning the grand jury:

“We are extremely disappointed that this grand jury did not indict Tiller for committing illegal abortions. Our own research proves that viable babies up until the moment of birth are being wrongly and illegally killed by Tiller and his cohorts under the misuse of a mental health exception that was not written into the law, but forced upon it by a pro-abortion former attorney general.

“Once again, we are suspicious that corrupt influences in the government, which have been influenced by Tiller’s large financial involvement in Kansas politics, may have thwarted justice once again.

“We will not stop seeking justice for the innocent victims of Tiller’s late-term barbaric practice, and will continue to exercise every legal avenue to stop the shedding of innocent blood and bring Tiller to justice.”

View Grand Jury Statement

Wichita, KS – A Sedgwick County grand jury has until July 8 to decide whether it will issue indictments against the notorious late-term abortionist George Tiller.

Pro-life groups, including Operation Rescue, have long maintained that Tiller’s late-term abortion business violates the Kansas ban on post-viability abortions at 22 weeks gestation or later.

However, until recently, there have been no efforts to enforce that law, or even spot-check compliance.

For years, Tiller has relied on political favors, purchased with million of dollars of abortion money, to insulate him from investigation and prosecution. Currently, every enforcement agency that might hold Tiller accountable under the law is run by abortion supporters appointed or controlled by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, whose personal relationship with Tiller recently came to light when Operation Rescue published photographs documenting a party hosted by Sebelius and attended exclusively by Tiller and his abortion clinic staff.

Justice Thwarted

Agencies responsible for policing abortion clinics include the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the State Attorney General’s office, and the local District Attorney’s office. Thus far, each of these agencies, with the exception of the AG’s office, has failed to monitor Tiller’s multi-million dollar abortion business and enforce legal violations.

Questions about why the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office dismissed 30 criminal charges filed by former Attorney General Phill Kline in December of 2006 resulted in a letter threatening Operation Rescue leaders with criminal charges.

Four complaints filed with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts have languished with little progress, one since 2006. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment even admitted during a legislative committee hearing in September, 2007, that they coached abortionists, including Tiller, not to elaborate on reasons for late-term abortions on forms requiring such explanations.

Even the AG’s office, which filed 19 criminal charges against Tiller on less serious charges than were filed by Kline, have allowed intolerable delays and foot-dragging, giving the appearance that their prosecution of Tiller will be less than aggressive.

Pro-life Watchdogs Expose Violations

It fell to pro-life groups to act as watchdogs over an out-of-control abortion industry in Kansas. Operation Rescue led the way in discovering, documenting, and exposing numerous problems at Tiller’s abortion clinic, including:

Numerous botched abortions requiring emergency hospitalization.

The death of 19-year old Christin Gilbert from a botched third-trimester abortion.

Illegal late-term abortions done for reasons other than the exceptions allowed by law or for bogus “mental health” reasons.

Illegal business relationship with abortionist Ann Kristen Neuhaus, who was providing the second opinion required by law before post-viability abortions can be done. (Tiller was later charged with 19 counts related to this.)

A pattern of coerced abortions.

Violations of the 24-hour waiting period.

The possible destruction of evidence.

The alleged stabbing death of a 35-week baby that was born alive during an abortion.

Evidence Production Stalled

Frustrated with the lack of interest exhibited by the State in enforcing abortion laws, last September the citizens of Sedgwick County exercised their right under Kansas law to initiate a grand jury investigation of Tiller by obtaining the required number of signatures. A challenge of the process filed by Tiller before the State Supreme Court failed, clearing the way for the seating of the grand jury on January 8, 2008.

The 15 members of the grand jury wasted no time, and began to hear testimony almost immediately. Operation Rescue President Troy Newman was one of those called to testify. Newman presented the grand jury with binders containing 200 pages of documents, including OR’s investigative report on late-term abortions, which continue at Tiller’s Wichita abortion mill to this day.

The grand jury issued subpoenas for nearly 2,000 abortion records. Tiller’s attorneys tied up the subpoenas in court, hoping to run out the clock on the grand jury’s 90-day term. Judge Paul Buchanan, who is overseeing the grand jury, extended its service for a second 90-day term that is set to expire on July 8. No further extensions are legally allowed.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled on May 6, that the grand jury was entitled to the evidence. Since then, abortion records have trickled in while the clock continues to run down to its unalterable deadline. While some records may eventually reach the grand jury, the majority will not.

Will it be enough?

Will the grand jury have enough evidence to indict Tiller? That is hard to know, since the grand jury investigative process is done in secret. But Troy Newman remains cautiously optimistic, based on his testimony and documents submitted by him in January, and his subsequent submission of additional evidence in April.

“I can’t say what I told the grand jury, but I am confident that this investigation has produced enough evidence to indict,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “But whether or not they will is an entirely different question. We are waiting and praying for justice.”

Legal Woes Are No Deterrent

Tiller’s late-term abortion business draws women from every state and all over the free world. He takes pride in providing the latest of abortions and has boasted that he has done abortions as late as the day before the babies’ due date.

Kansas law specifies that abortions after 22 weeks gestation can only be done under two very narrow exceptions. Tiller depends on these loopholes to keep his abortion business operating a full capacity.

Exception Loopholes

The first exception is to allow an abortion to save the life of the mother. However, there has never been even one case reported in the history of the State of Kansas that was done for that reason.

Second, a post-22 week abortion is allowed if continuation of the pregnancy would result in a “substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function” of the pregnant woman. That exception has been taken to include mental health risks to the mother, as long as the risk was substantial and irreversible.

Tiller uses the mental health exception for nearly every post-viability abortion done at his Wichita clinic. However, when pro-lifers are able to speak with women headed for abortions, the women believe they are getting abortions for reasons other than to protect their mental health. They say they are getting abortions because their babies have birth defects, or because they cannot afford another child, or because their parents are forcing them to. One woman recently confided in sidewalk counselors that she was getting a late-term abortion so that her pregnancy would not ruin her “tummy tuck.”

“All these excuses for abortions simply do not meet the standard of substantial and irreversible conditions that would affect the pregnant woman,” said Newman. “Abortions done for those reasons are illegal in Kansas.”

OR Vows To Continue Efforts

Yet, 49 criminal charges, two grand juries, a Legislative inquiry, and one dead abortion patient later, Tiller continues to operate at “full speed ahead.”

“We are praying for indictments, but whatever the grand jury does, we will continue to seek justice for those innocent babies whose lives should be protected, but aren’t,” said Newman. “If this grand jury doesn’t indict, we’ll keep trying. The Bible tells us that the blood of the innocent cries out to God for justice. We hear their cries, and will not stop until justice is done.”

Topeka, KS – A new executive director has been appointed to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts to replace Larry Buening, who resigned amid criticism of Board foot-dragging on processing complaints against physicians.

Jack Confer, Executive Director of the Arizona Board of Osteopathy, will assume his duties with the KSBHA on July 14. Confer will serve on an interim basis pending confirmation by the State Senate.

“The Board, under Buening’s leadership, did not do its job of protecting patients, especially from exploitation by shoddy abortionists,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman, who often called for Buening’s resignation. “Confer certainly has his work cut out for him if he is to restore public confidence in the Board’s ability to protect the public. He can start by leaving any political posturing at home. He must look at the complaints on their merits, not on what will please Gov. Sebelius.”

“There are currently four complaints pending against abortionist George Tiller, one dating back to 2006,” said Operation Rescue Senior Policy Advisor Cheryl Sullenger. “In fact, the basis of that 2006 complaint involved allegations that Tiller committed illegal abortions by violating the second unaffiliated physician requirement in Kansas law, something with which he has since been criminally charged. Yet, Tiller continues to operate without restriction. This is putting viable babies who should have legal protection at grave risk.”

In addition, Sullenger recently filed a complaint against Tiller and his employee, abortionist Shelley Sella, who is alleged by an eyewitness to have stabbed to death a 35-week old baby that was born alive during an abortion.

“The extreme seriousness of the allegations against Tiller demand swift action in the interest of public safety,” said Sullenger.

“We call Mr. Confer to make it his first priority, upon assuming his new position, to do his duty to protect the most innocent and vulnerable among us by immediately closing Tiller’s abortion mill and suspending the medical licenses of Tiller and Sella,” said Newman. “We certainly will not hesitate to voice our opinion during the Senate confirmation process, if it appears that Confer is just another abortion industry shill. ”

Operation Rescue calls for immediate suspension of Sella’s medical license and for an emergency closure of Tiller’s late-term abortion mill in light of this shocking audio-taped admission.

CORRECTION: Due to an honest miscommunication over cell phones, we misunderstood the former Tiller employee’s last name, which she gave to us only once when she first contacted us. Her true last name is David, not Davis. We have corrected her name in the article below and on the transcript. We apologize for any inconvenience. –OR Staff

Wichita, KS – A murder investigation has been opened involving Shelley Sella, a California abortionist employed by George Tiller, who is reported to have intentionally stabbed to death an infant born alive during an abortion at Tiller’s Women’s Health Care Services abortion clinic in Wichita, Kansas.

Listen to the interview excerpt (1 min. 38 sec.)

On the advice of an attorney, Operation Rescue reported the incident to the Wichita Police Department after a former Tiller employee, Tina David, told Troy Newman and Cheryl Sullenger of the stabbing in April. It is believed that the alleged infanticide took place sometime in the past two years.

In addition, the incident has been reported to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts, which has confirmed that the case has been assigned to an investigator.

Ms. David is a Licensed Practical Nurse, and was the only licensed medical person in Tiller’s employment at that time, except for his three out-of-state abortionists, who work at WHCS on a three-week rotating schedule.

Abortionist Shelley Sella is a “circuit rider” who splits her time between Tiller’s Wichita clinic, a California Planned Parenthood clinic, and other, smaller abortion mills.

“Ms. David gave us a very specific eye-witness account about the incident,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We were told that the baby was 35 weeks gestation at the time of the abortion. The baby came out and was moving. Sella looked up at Ms. David, then picked up a utensil and stabbed the baby in the left ribcage, twisting the utensil until the baby quit moving. At 35 weeks, there is no doubt about viability. This is murder in anybody’s book.”

Ms. David could not explain why the baby was born alive since abortions that late in the pregnancy usually begin with a fatal injection into the baby’s heart. However, Operation Rescue has been told by former abortion patients that sometimes the first injection is not always successful. (Read how these abortions are done.)

In fact, Sella was involved in the abortion of Michelle Armesto-Berge, who testified before a Kansas legislative committee last September of her horrific late-term abortion experience at WHCS. According to her medical records, which she released to Operation Rescue, Armesto-Berge received the digoxin injection at the beginning of her abortion process, and was forced to receive a second injection by Sella when it was discoverd that her baby was still alive the following day.

“The digoxin injection into the baby’s heart is a difficult and risky procedure,” said Newman. “Sella doesn’t appear to be very good at it.”

Ms. David also told Operation Rescue that on four occasions of which she was aware, women received the digoxin injection into their babies’ hearts, and were sent home to their primary physician for “delivery of the stillborn.”

“This practice has extreme risks, because the women, who come from all over the Western Hemisphere, could go into labor or experience a number of other dangerous complications before they are able to get to their own doctors,” said Newman. “It is shocking that this is allowed.”

“We understand there are unique challenges to getting charges filed in this case since the body would have been cremated at Tiller’s on-site crematorium. Without a body, any murder case becomes more difficult,” said Newman. “However, because of the brutality of this murder and the gravity of this charge, we are compelled to demand that Tiller’s clinic be closed by the State until a full inspection and investigation can take place, and that the medical licenses of Sella and her boss, Tiller, be immediately suspended.”

“We also understand that because Ms. David’s employment at WHCS was terminated, that damages her credibility,” Newman continued. “But we have every reason to believe that the story she told us was true. We have been able to confirm many of the other things she told us. Ms. David came forward because she was troubled by what went on at the abortion clinic, and was seeking peace. We pray she finds it. ”

In March, 2008, Students for Life in America released an undercover video where Tiller told them that if a baby is born alive during an abortion, “It’s just sloppy technique. It is just technique that is reprehensible.” He added, “The guy that did that ought to have his head beat up.”

Listen to the interview excerpt (1 min. 38 sec.)
Read the transcript

San Diego, CA – Bertha Bugarin was arrested on Thursday and jailed in San Diego on ten felonies and one misdemeanor for practicing medicine and prescribing drugs without a license. If convicted, she faces nine years in jail.

Bugarin, who has no medical training, owns five abortion mills in Southern California, including one in Chula Vista, a southern suburb of San Diego. She had been posing as a doctor, performing abortions illegally for $500.

Nine women came forward with stories of botched abortions received at Bugarin’s hand. Many women suffered from incomplete abortions and were forced to return to have their abortions done again. One woman was hospitalized three times, and birthed a live baby that died three hours later.

Bugarin made a court appearance yesterday dressed in blue jailhouse garb and shackled at the waist. She was being held on $500,000 bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for July 2.

These charges add to Bugarin’s legal woes. In August, 2007, Bugarin was arrested in Los Angeles after a the police raided four of her clinics. She was charged in Los Angeles County with 18 counts committing abortions without a medical license. Her sister, Raquel, was charged with four counts of aiding and abetting her sister in their illegal abortion operation. In addition one of Bugarin’s hired abortionists, Laurence Reich, was also arrested after he was found to be doing abortions months after losing his medical license for sexually molesting his patients.

Bugarin’s abortion chain, Clinica Medica Para La Mujer De Hoy, preys on Hispanic women, and would often pass out abortion discount coupons in Hispanic neighborhoods.

Operation Rescue began working to expose and close these dangerous abortion mills 1999. As a result six of Bugarin’s clinics have closed, at least five of her hired abortionists lost their medical licenses, and three abortionists have received discipline from the California Medical Board.

“The only way to stop someone like Bugarin from hurting people is to put her in jail, because she obviously has no respect for the law or for the lives of the women she seeks to exploit,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We thank God that Bugarin is being brought to justice. We have worked for years, along with the faithful pro-lifers in San Diego, to close her shop of horrors, and now it looks like those prayers are being answered.”

Lexington, KY – Abortionist Hamid Sheikh has had his medical license suspended and his Lexington, Kentucky, abortion mill closed after the state’s medical board revealed evidence of fraud, filthy conditions, and illegal abortions that led one reporter to describe Sheikh’s clinic as a “hellish abortion operation.”

Sheikh as been indicted for defrauding Medicaid out of thousands of dollars. He is also accused of maintaining unsanitary conditions, including dirty hospital gowns and surgical equipment. An investigation revealed out of date medications and biohazard waste that had not been picked up for twelve weeks.

Women have come forward saying Sheikh did not use pain medications and that abortions he committed on them were excruciatingly painful. One teenager reported that she was told to “shut up” because her screams would disturb the other patients.

A video report from WHAS Channel 11 details the horrors that occurred at Sheikh’s Lexington abortion mill. (Click to view.)

“The horrific conditions discovered at Sheikh’s mill are not the exception; they are what we have come to expect from America’s failing abortion industry,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

In recent years, numerous abortion mills have closed after abortionists have been discovered to have botched abortions, provided unsanitary and unsafe conditions, and committed fraud. The number of abortion clinics has been steadily decreasing, along with the number of abortionists.

“Doctors that are concerned about helping and healing people do not go into the abortion business. Therefore, what the abortion industry is left with is the bottom of the barrel. When abortion mills are inspected and laws are enforced, we can expect to see pulled licenses and closed clinics. Unfortunately, abortion mills are all too often given a free pass, but even that is beginning to change as the public becomes more aware of incidents like this,” said Newman.

“We are thankful that Sheikh has been caught and will now be held accountable for the human suffering that he has caused.”

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Father Frank Pavone
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Janet Morana
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