Austin, TX – Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst issued a statement yesterday afternoon demanding a full-scale investigation into the practices of Houston abortionist Douglas Karpen, who has been accused of conducting late-term abortion operation akin to that of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell.
The statement was made in response to information also released yesterday by Operation Rescue that included photos taken by former Karpen employees that showed two babies’ bodies that appear to be well beyond the legal limit of 24 weeks in Texas. Both babies had their throats cut. The former clinic workers allege that such babies were routinely born alive during illegal abortions and were intentionally killed.
In addition, the Texas Department of State Health Services has launched an investigation, according to the Houston Chronicle. Carrie Williams, spokeswoman for the DSHS told the paper in an e-mail to the paper that it is “aware of the allegations, and we are investigating…This is a very high priority for us.”
Also looking into the allegations that Karpen routinely aborted intact late-term babies beyond the legal limit then killed them after they were born alive is the Harris County District Attorney’s office.
“We have several people looking into the allegations,” Sara Marie Kinney, a spokeswoman for the Harris County District Attorney confirmed.
“For nearly three years, authorities have ignored our complaints and done nothing while horrific late-term babies continued to be aborted in an apparently illegal and barbaric manner. Now, thanks to the outpouring of public pressure that has been brought to bear by the pro-life community, the authorities in Texas are finally beginning to act. It’s a big step in the right direction,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “We hope this time they will follow through and that justice will be done.”
Meanwhile, Leigh Hopper of the Texas Medical Board is now telling reporters that the information released by Operation Rescue concerning abortion abuses by Karpen “raises concerns, for certain.”
“The Texas Medical Board has a lot of explaining to do, as far as we are concerned,” said Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor who filed a complaint against Karpen and worked with the former employees to get their evidence to Board investigators. The Board dismissed the complaint last February.
“It is unimaginable that the Board could look at the evidence we provided then turn around and tell us that Karpen did nothing inappropriate, yet now they are trying to pretend to be ‘concerned,’” she said. “It took a lot of courage for the women who used to work for Karpen to come forward with their testimony and evidence. Their statements should have been taken more seriously. Hopefully now the authorities will take a harder look at the reports of atrocities coming out of Houston.”
Because public pressure helped bring the Gosnell case into the national spotlight, Operation Rescue is asking the public to one again take to Twitter.com and post thoughts about the Karpen revelations under #texasgosnell in order to keep the story in the public eye.
Read the statement from Lt. Gov. Dewhurst
Read the Special Report from Operation Rescue