Albuquerque, NM – In a move that will only continue to put the lives of women at risk, the New Mexico Medical Board had dismissed the case against late-term abortionist Shelley Sella without discipline after she botched a 35-week abortion that resulted in a ruptured uterus and the inability of her patient to bear future children.
“All along we faced an uphill battle with a medical board that expressed views that were in support of third trimester abortions. Today’s decision to protect abortionists and their below standard procedures that endanger women and violate the law only serves to place more women at risk,” said Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor for Operation Rescue. “The corrupt political climate that exempts abortionists from adhering to the standard of care has created a second-class status for women who are being denied access to the protections that those standards provide. This is a miscarriage of justice.”
New Mexico law states that third trimester abortions should only be done in hospitals were these high risk patients can be carefully monitored and where they have access to immediate care in the event of an emergency.
The case stemmed from complaints filed by Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life after Tara Shaver of PDL obtained the 911 call through an open records request.
Sella was accused of four counts of gross negligence in her treatment of a 35-week pregnant woman from New York who traveled to Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque for an abortion because her baby was diagnosed as having a large head.
According to the record, Sella ignored every possible warning sign, including the woman’s medical history that included a previous Cesarean Section delivery and ACOG standards when she proceeded with the abortion using dangerous drugs that cause unpredictable and often severe uterine contractions that have been known to cause uterine ruptures.
Operation Rescue and Project Defending Life brought the complaints in an effort to protect women from further harm.
“Since the New Mexico Medical Board refuses to do it’s duty to protect the public, we call for a complete overhaul of the Board. We call on Gov. Suzanna Martinez to clean house at the Board before more women are injured or killed,” said Sullenger.
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