“Following the death of Holly Patterson, California must conduct a full, thorough and impartial investigation of all Planned Parenthood facilities, reviewing the ‘healthcare’ standards and practices offered throughout the state,” said Ed Szymkowiak, national director of American Life League’s STOPP International.
“This is the second time in less than six months that the media is reporting news about a mother who died after receiving abortion-related services from one of their clinics.” The San Francisco Chronicle reports Patterson was seven weeks pregnant when she went to Planned Parenthood in Hayward, Calif., for an RU-486 (also known as mifepristone) abortion.
“Allegations of malpractice are nothing new at Planned Parenthood,” said Jim Sedlak, executive director of American Life League’s STOPP International. “If Planned Parenthood was pro-woman like they claim to be, they would think twice before administering drugs such as misoprostol – which is part of an RU-486 abortion – that even the manufacturer says could take women’s lives.”
The following is a short list of cases involving Planned Parenthood patients:
- In 2003, the California Department of Health Services cited a Los Angeles Planned Parenthood facility for numerous deficiencies following the death of Diana Lopez, who bled to death in 2002 after her cervix was allegedly punctured during an abortion.
- In 2001, Planned Parenthood agreed to pay a New York woman $1 million because it had repeatedly insisted she did not have breast cancer when, in fact, she did.
- Also in 2001, a San Francisco court decision awarded $672,610 in damages to a Yugoslav immigrant whose preborn child suffered the loss of two limbs during a botched abortion at Planned Parenthood.
- In 2000, a Missouri woman went into a coma after she allegedly went without oxygen for a period of time during tubal ligation surgery at Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood claims to hold its clinics to the highest standards in providing women with quality healthcare. “For more than a decade, STOPP International has requested a copy of Planned Parenthood’s so-called medical guidelines, but to date they have totally ignored our requests and have not made them public,” Szymkowiak said. “In light of Holly Patterson’s death and the numerous other tragedies at their clinics, I challenge Planned Parenthood to release these standards for public scrutiny. If they continue to refuse, it leaves one to wonder exactly what it is Planned Parenthood is trying to hide.”
Release issued: 24 Sept 03
