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Allentown abortion clinic registration revoked by PA Health Dept

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/index.ssf/2012/04/allentown_abortion_clinics_lic.html

Allentown abortion clinic's registration revoked by Pennsylvania Health Department
Published: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 6:43 PM     Updated: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 7:18 PM
By Andrew George | The Express-Times


"Steven Brigham, of Voorhees, N.J., was listed as Allentown Medical Services' registration applicant, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
An Allentown abortion clinic with connections to a controversial New Jersey abortion doctor has been ordered to close by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Allentown Medical Services at 2200 Hamilton Street, Suite 200, had its registration revoked Tuesday night due to an "infrastructure failure" caused by the clinic's landlord, David A. Klein Real Estate, locking the tenant out of the facility, according to the department's letter to the abortion provider.

The clinic's lease expired March 31 and has not been renewed.

Bridget Wilson, a spokeswoman for American Women's Services, said the group is looking to re-establish a clinic in the Allentown area.
"We are not closing permanently and will reopen when we find a new location,"said Wilson. "We are in the process of finding a new location and will remain in Allentown or the surrounding areas."
The clinic's founder, Dr. Steven Brigham, had murder charges against him dropped last month. He was charged under a Maryland law that gives prosecutors the ability to seek murder charges for the death of a viable fetus. He faced trial alongside another doctor, Nicola Riley, of Salt Lake City.


View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | STEPHEN FLOOD
Allentown Medical Services, an abortion clinic at 2200 Hamilton St. in Allentown run by Dr. Steven Brigham's American Women's Services, had its registration revoked Tuesday night.
Brigham owns American Women's Services, which still operates an abortion facility in Phillipsburg. He lost his New Jersey medical license in 2010 after it was discovered he was arranging second- and third-trimester abortions in New Jersey then having patients travel to Maryland the following day to complete them.
Allentown Medical Services is owned and operated by Rose Health Services Co., but its latest registration application was filed in Brigham's name, said Pennsylvania Department of Health spokeswoman Christine Cronkright.

The department mandates that registrations are site-specific and therefore registered clinics must administer abortions at the location listed. Registrations are not transferable.
"Based on the fact that AMS no longer has a physical facility in which to offer abortion services to patients, the Department of Health hereby revokes AMS' registration to operate a free-standing abortion facility at 2200 Hamilton St.,"wrote Anna Marie Sossong, the department's deputy secretary for quality assurance, in a letter Tuesday to Brigham.
Cronkright said the facility was ordered to close April 2 after a department site visit revealed the clinic's lease had expired. By April 5, however, a new registration application had been filed and the clinic was considered reopened.

After additional review yielded further alleged examples of misconduct, Cronkright said the registration was revoked and the clinic was officially ordered to close Tuesday.
"In addition, I would note that the Department of Health long has witnessed a chronic inability by AMS to comply with the most fundamental statutory and regulatory requirements," Sossong wrote. "These recent events have shown that AMS is unwilling or unable to comply even with the most basic requirements of the law established and designed to assure the health and safety of the patients."
Maria Gallagher, legislative director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, called the clinic's closing "long overdue."
"It's terrible that this abortion center was allowed to continue in operation for so long but we are very happy that it's shut its doors," Gallagher said.
9 Responses
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973741 tn?1342342773
This video seemed to be a piece pro lifers use as part of their story.  I try not to look at anything from just one side.  I believe that once I am making perfect choices----  I'll start to work on everyone else doing the same.  But I'm a long way off. And all sin is equal in God's eyes.
Helpful - 0
973741 tn?1342342773
I can certainly view the video.  I think if I am in a position to provide counsel to someone, I may indeed be the one person someone needs to convince them to not choose abortion.  But in all honesty, I can not do that based on my religious belief.  I believe religion is personal.  God gives us and everyone free choice.  Free choice to become close to him.  Free choice to sin.  I struggle with not making my own sinful choices.  I am human and it is a daily challenge to stay on the right track.  I pray for all to find their way, to be better people, to hear God speak to them.  I pray that God speaks to me and leads me as well.  I've never gotten the message that my calling was to take on pro life as my cause.  I advocate for people being their best selves all the time and that incudes making healthy and good choices in their lives.  Understanding that our actions have consequences is essential.  And I guess in some ways abortion is a free pass for those consequences.  But see, I know better.  I've had the job of helping women emotionally deal with decisions they've made.  Bad choices.  And comforting them.  And while I feel horrible about the babies they've aborted when that is the case----  I know that God comforts them, they are fine.  

Whew, I got all religious and went deep here.  Sorry.

I will check out the video.  I'm sure I've saved a few babies with advice I've given professionally and personally (I am a huge fan of adoption)-----  and I've seen a lot of adults that had really terrible parents that should have given their kids up for adoption.  Do I think those in that situation would have been better off killed when in utero, no.  But their parents should have either used birth control in the first place or given them up for adoption.  Yep, it can be that bad in some kid's home lives.  My job has often been to comfort them and to help them pick up the pieces and try to have a healthy life as adults.  

But I will watch the video, I promise.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
specialmom, please take a look at this video. One of Americas leading Psychiatrists. VERY interesting interview.

They had this doctor go over the patients records - patients of Dr. Tiller, the abortionist who did many late term abortions. These women who had the Psychiatric excuses for the late term, well this top Psychiatrist viewed all their excuses as "social" = "going to a rock concert"as an excuse etc - the baby will get in the way of her education etc etc.....these were all late term. Horrific. Not one patient in his professional opinion had reason to abort.

Specialmom, I believe if we are to be pro life we cannot say pro choice is okay for someone who believes that way...no offense, but really give it thought. YOU might be the only one who can reach a certain person, what you say to them. That is how we must think of it. If a pro life person really believes its a baby in the womb that is what we have to put above everything else - and not worry about hurting someones feelings. Do you know what I mean? :)

I think you will find the interview as a real eye opener. Maybe even Pro choice people will see it differently after hearing this Psychiatrist speak...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mviFMpy_sBU
Helpful - 0
973741 tn?1342342773
I didn't realize that it wasn't uncommon.  Ugh.  I think it is unethetical for docs to go along with that.  I worked in the mental health field for about a gazillion years and luckily never got that request or know of that being done!  Yeesh.
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973741 tn?1342342773
Well, it is a complex issue.  Many have mixed emotions about it and others are dead set on their belief.  It can be a subject that some make their life's passion.  This is the case of a dear friend of mine.  A brillient woman,  mother of 5, working mom and very pro life.  She takes time for any pro life activity and has it as her number one priority politically and in general when it comes to causes.  I respect her very much.  I understand where she is coming from.  

I too am an educated woman, a mother, a person with values and morals but have more mixed emotions about it.  I don't argue about this subject EVER though as it is really a subject to me that I don't have the passion for.  I'm convinced either way.  I believe in pro life, I believe in pro choice for those that don't.  It is not top of my agenda nor my primary cause.  I am not in the position of saving the world but am really busy minding my own self and trying to do what I can to be a good person myself.  When I get better at that . . . I'll move on to other people.  :>) I really pray that people don't have abortions!!!!  I think it is tragic in many ways.  I pray for all who sin or who fail at being the best they can be in God's eyes or any that are victems of sin.  

So, I don't stay away from the question per se at times as it is complex for me.  And I find that those that feel strongly one way or the other don't want to understand that it can be complex for me  and do not often respect where I am coming from.  And I won't argue about it.  

I do completely agree that avoiding pregnancy is the way to not have this issue.  Oh, I so agree.  It is easy to not get pregnant.  I wish this could be the focus.  I ---  for a very long time ---  was against schools teaching about birth control but am rethinking this.  Kids really need to learn how to take responsibility.  But then people argue about what the schools should say.  I wish I could rule the world sometimes!

So,  I agree with all pro life points.  I'm convinced.  I think all abortion is terrible too.  But I understand the implications of taking the ability away from other women that do not have my belief.  
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Avatar universal
specialmom, thats not as uncommon as people think - the late term. all they need is a medical excuse - an excuse from a Psychiatrist is what some women will use. I was watching a video on utube with a doctor explaining how they get away with these late term abortions...
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Avatar universal
And 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions, horrible, well to me any time during the pregnancy abortion is horrible.. Yet Pro choice people continually say they don't want to see abortion illegal as it will force women underground.

Well the women can PREVENT being hurt or dying during an 'underground abortion," its easy - just don't get pregnant....

But what about these children who are being aborted during these "legal days" of abortion?

Yes of course many pro choice will say this is awful,,, but how can you say that? For one minute you say "its a woman's body, she can do what she wants, its her rights."

So if as a Pro choice person you are against what this doctor did, let me ask, at what month during the pregnancy do you stop saying its a woman's right to do what she wants with her body? Is it 13 weeks? 20 weeks? 25? I don't get it. You don't either if you think about it.

I don't expect an answer. I know Pro choice people avoid certain questions and this one you may never have been asked. And its nothing personal against anyone here on this site. I'm just trying to make you think about what you believe. Its not solid - your beliefs. If it was, you would say a woman can abort at any stage of the pregnancy (which is horrible), but at least it would show you really do believe "its a woman's body to do with what she wants and its her right." Think about it folks.

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973741 tn?1342342773
Oh and, if the health department revoked their liscense----  um, that says something.  Putting aside anyone's feelings on abortion----  who would go to a facility for a procedure that had its liscense revoked and the doctor also losing their liscense???  Ugh.
Helpful - 0
973741 tn?1342342773
Sounds like an illegal operation as the physician was performing second and third trimester abortions.  It must be difficult for the clinic to defend that and am surprised that they are fighting so hard to maintain their facility.
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