By Cheryl Sullenger

Pensacola, FL – A Florida abortion facility that seriously injured three women during second trimester abortions is appealing an Emergency Suspension Order issued by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) on May 20, 2022.

Integrity Medical Care LLC, which is doing business as American Family Planning in Pensacola, Florida, is seeking a stay on the Emergency Suspension Order (ESO), which prevents it from conducting any abortions.

The three women, whose near-death experiences resulted in the ESO, were hospitalized with critical internal injuries as the result of botched second trimester abortions between August 2021 and May 2022. All suffered uterine perforations and other internal injuries that caused massive losses of blood.  They all required emergency surgery to save their lives.

American Family Planning has filed a motion to stay the ESO, arguing that the AHCA’s action was “draconian” since it did not take the “least restrictive means available” to protect the public.

“It’s almost laughable for American Family Planning to claim to be the victim when they are the ones affiliated with disgraced abortionist Steven Chase Brigham, the ultimate abortion victimizer,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue.  “There has hardly been a more dishonest, deceptive, or incompetent abortionist ever.  His corners-cutting abortion practices that have put many women in life-threatening emergency situations – including one woman who died at one of his Maryland clinics – are well documented.  He is the worst abortionist in America who is not currently in prison.”

Even though all Brigham’s medical licenses in six states have been revoked or surrendered, he continues to control at least portions of his former American Women’s Services empire, including the Pensacola facility, through a maze of at least 38 business entities that are meant to conceal his involvement.

The American Family Planning argued that it should be allowed to continue abortions, especially first trimester abortions, which it insists are only done by “medication.”  It claims the only surgical abortions conducted by the abortion facility are second trimester procedures.

However, Operation Rescue has repeatedly confirmed through various means and sources that Brigham-affiliated abortion facilities do not use the standard abortion pill cocktail of Mifepristone and Misoprostol. 

Instead, to cut corners on expenses and increase profits, they use the unreliable injectable drug Methotrexate, which has a shocking 30-40 percent failure rate through seven weeks of pregnancy. The drug is so risky that it is not recommended for use after seven weeks.

Brigham was sued in 2014 by Christy O’Connell, whose baby survived a Methotrexate abortion injection given well beyond seven weeks gestation.  As a result, the baby was born with multiple health issues.  O’Connell was awarded a default judgment of $6.5 million.  However, Brigham appealed the judgment and finally settled the case for an undisclosed amount in July 2020 – eight years after the failed abortion.

Because of this dangerous first trimester abortion practice, the AHCA is completely justified in keeping the ESO in place as written.

“There is no way the AHCA should allow abortions to continue at American Family Planning. Every abortion they do is unsafe. Brigham has such a long and sordid history of deception, law-breaking, and negligence that any woman who walks into American Family Planning faces an enhanced level of danger,” said Newman.  “That abortion facility should be closed for good.”

Related: