PRESS RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – An amicus brief was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday by Life Legal Defense Foundation and Liberty Counsel on behalf of Operation Rescue in June Medical Services LLC v. Gee, (now June Medical Services LLC v. Russo) a case reviewing the Louisiana state law that requires doctors performing abortions to have admission privileges at a state-authorized hospital within 30 miles of the abortion center.
The brief features several examples from Operation Rescue’s own investigations that reveal that states, including Louisiana, often do not take adequate measures to discipline dangerous abortionists who have multiple documented cases of serious patient injuries.
Once such example was that of California abortionist Donald Clyde Willis. In 1993, while living in Washington, a suicidal Willis survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was confined to a mental institution for three months. The State of Washington placed restrictions on his license, prompting Willis to relocate to California where he could practice without hindrances.
In 2017, Willis began working for FPA Women’s Health in Bakersfield, California, where he injured six women in his first year, including three in one month. Despite a complaint filed by Operation Rescue, Willis’ medical license remains active and without restriction. A hospital privilege requirement may have prevented him from practicing, which could have spared those six women from suffering life-threatening abortion injuries.
“Think about what this case is really about. Abortionists who are incapable of qualifying for hospital privileges are asking for the Supreme Court to allow them to operate despite their questionable competency,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “Because we research and document medical emergencies at abortion facilities and other abortion-related abuses, we support hospital privilege requirements. We understand just how dangerous abortion really is and the need for that extra layer of accountability that hospital privileges provides.”
In addition to Operation Rescue, the amicus brief was also submitted on behalf of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC).
“We appreciate the work of Life Legal Defense Foundation and the Liberty Counsel helping us weigh in on this important case that will literally mean the difference between life and death for some women and their babies,” said Newman.
June Medical Services LLC v. Gee is scheduled to be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 4, 2020.
