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Behind the News Abortion |
The following News Items are taken from an emailing list associated with the following web site and are printed here with permission. http://www.roevwade.org |
Former Abortion Practitioner Describes Pro-life Change of Heart Source: Tuesday, October 26, 1999, Grand Rapids Press Grand Rapids -- A former New York abortion practitioner described how a personal tragedy took him from being morally neutral on the issue to an outspoken critic of abotion. Anthony Levatino and his wife, Cecelia, were the featured speakers Monday night at the 12th annual Focus on Life fundraising dinner for Grand Rapids Right to Life at the Grand Center. More than 1,700 people turned out to hear the couple's story. Anthony Levatino began the talk by describing in detail the process of removing body parts piece by piece and piling them on a table as part of a second trimester abortion procedure. Unfazed by the task, he said he believed his job as an abortion practitioner in the early 1970s was to provide for all of a woman's medical needs, including abortions. However, when he and his wife began trying to adopt a child, he said he began to feel uncomfortable about the work he was doing. "That was the only time I had any qualms at all and they were totally selfish," he said. Once the adoption went through, he said all of those feelings disappeared. Nearly six years later, their adopted daughter, Heather, died after being struck by a car. Levatino said he took two weeks off and then tried to go back to his normal routine. While performing a second trimester abortion, he said he became physically ill and was nearly unable to complete it. "I looked down at that table and for the first time in my life ... for the first time, that was somebody's son or daughter," he said. "Suddenly I was looking at that person very differently." Cecelia Levatino, who had always been pro-life, said her husband became unbearable to live with during that time. Finally, she broke their unspoken rule not to discuss what he did and confronted him about the toll his actions were taking on the family. Anthony Levatino said he initially stopped doing only second trimester abortions, but later realized that he could no longer perform any abortions. He said he stopped doing abortions in 1985, quit practicing medicine in 1990 and became a Christian a year later. Levatino now helps women
by providing counseling at local crisis pregnancy centers
and, along with his wife, promotes abortion alternatives.
He also provides medical advice and opinions to women
seeking help at Pregnancy Doctors Call Abortion "Bad Medicine" Source: Thursday, October 28, 1999, Lancaster New Era Lancaster, PA -- Three Lancaster County doctors who are outspoken critics of abortions and Planned Parenthood's decision to begin offering them here spoke out today against the dangers and "bad medicine." Dr. Cary Campanella, a family practitioner in Lititz, Dr. Lenora Berning, an emergency room physician, and Dr. Madonna L. Talbert, an obstetrician/gynecologist in Lancaster, held a news conference in front of Lancaster General Hospital's emergency room, at North Duke and East Frederick streets, this morning. The three doctors cited concerns over the safety of women who get abortions, who will take care of them after it's done, and what Berning called the "lack of reliable medical oversight and regulatory standards in the abortion industry." They also called for Planned Parenthood of the Susquehanna Valley to reverse its decision to do abortions. Talbert said she feels providing an abortion would be a violation of the Hippocratic Oath, an ethical oath usually taken by medical students. Campanella has been an outspoken critic of Planned Parenthood since it announced it would begin providing abortions here. Last November, Campanella got 65 local physicians to sign a newspaper advertisement opposing the decision. Abortion, Berning said, "is the only elective surgical procedure that I know of in which the doctor performing the procedure is not responsible for follow-up care nor does he or she take an active role in dealing with the complications." "Abortion is bad medicine," she said. "It is bad because it pushes sloppy medical care upon women who have been led to believe that their only choice is to abort their babies." Talbert said she has many questions about who will be performing abortions for Planned Parenthood, and who will take care of women when complications arise. "Will the provider employees at the clinic have local hospital privileges? Will the provider be a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist? Will the clinic provide 24-hour emergency coverage for problems that arise?" she asked. "Will the specimens
removed at the time of the abortion be evaluated by a
pathologist to assure that an ectopic pregnancy has not
been missed?" she continued. An ectopic pregnancy is
one in which the unborn child develops Planned Parenthood said
the abortion practitioner does not need privileges at the
local hospital. If a woman having an abortion has serious
complications, she will be taken to a local emergency
room. Yet, in two abortion-related Planned Parenthood officials have confirmed that they have found someone to perform abortions. They declined to identify the person, but said he or she does not live in the county. The fact that the doctor does not live here concerns Campanella. "I am appalled at the prospect of abortions being performed by an out-of-state physician who will intentionally leave the area after he is finished and will not even be available to provide follow-up care or, more concerning, to handle any post-operative complications which may arise," Campanella said. Talbert, who has been in practice for 15 years said she regularly treats women each year for abortion complications. Berning said she had treated several women who had had medical problems following abortions. Pregnancy Centers Online Giuliani Too Pro-Abortion for NY Conservatives New York Mayor and
likely Senate candidate Rudolph Giuliani was not invited
to a state Conservative Party fund-raising event recently.
In fact, the chairman of the politically influential
third party said he has not talked to the New York City
mayor in three months about a possible endorsement for
the race that is expected to pit Giuliani against Hillary
Rodham Clinton. "If I invited him and he showed up,
it would send the wrong message,'' party Chairman Michael
Long said. No Republican has won a statewide race in New
York without Conservative Party backing since its
founding more than 25 years ago. Unlike most states, New
York allows major party candidates to run on third-party
ballot lines and they can make the difference in tight
races.Long said he hasn't ruled out an eventual
endorsement of Giuliani but added, ``I've laid out my
agenda. While I think the bar is kind of low, maybe Abortion Advocate Endorses Buchanan for President A 1992 independent presidential candidate, Lenora Fulani, endorsed Pat Buchanan's Reform Party campaign for president. Fulani, who espouses socialist beliefs and is a radical abortion advocate, will serve as a co-chairman of Buchanan's campaign. GOPer Joins NJ Senate Race Congressman Bob Franks on became the third Republican to enter the race for New Jersey's open U.S. Senate seat. Franks has a mediocre 50% voting record on pro-life issues. College professor Murray Sabrin, a former candidate for Governor, is the lone pro-life candidate in the Senate race to this point. Two Democrats, former Wall Street executive Jon Corzine and former New Jersey Gov. Jim Florio, also are seeking the seat, being vacated by retiring Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Both support abortion. California Pro-Life Congressman Retires After making history in '82 "with a victorious write-in campaign for Congress," pro-life Rep. Ron Packard announced he would retire in 2000. A NRCC spokesperson called Packard's CD "very Republican" and said GOP strategists "are not worried about retaining it." The big race will be the GOP primary where several Republicans have already discussed possible candidacies. Businessman Darrel Issa, who is pro-life and lost to Matt Fong for the GOP nomination for Senate in '98, former Congressman Bob Dornan, who is pro-life, and pro-abortion San Diego Mayor Susan Golding are possibilities. Former Planned Parenthood Director Will Challenge IL Congressman Planned Parenthood of Central Illinois Director Joyce Harant said that she plans to challenge incumbent pro-life Rep. Ray LaHood (R-IL) for his House seat in next year's election. The 20-year head of the Planned Parenthood affiliate ran in 1994 as a write-in candidate and said that she knew she "couldn't win, but ... was very proud of the 955 votes" she received. "Whoever gets the Democratic nomination against LaHood has their work cut out for them," as the seat has been a Republican stronghold since 1912, and LaHood, who has held the seat since 1994, ran unchallenged in 1998. Steve Forbes Urges GOP to Host Gianna Jessen Pro-life presidential candidate Steve Forbes has signed a letter to Republican Party Chairman Jim Nicholson joining a national effort to encourage the GOP to allow Gianna Jessen to address the national Republican convention next year. Jessen is a young woman who survived an abortion attempt more than 20 years ago, which has left her with numerous physical disabilities. She is a nationally-known pro-life speaker who has encouraged thousands to stand up for their pro-life convictions. You can join this effort, by sending your comments to: Mr. Jim Nicholson, chairman, Republican National Committee, 310 First Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003Forbes points out that Jessen is "a young lady who survived a saline abortion in 1977. She appears at conferences and on television regularly to tell her story. It is a powerful story, one that the American public needs to hear, about an 'unwanted' child who became a beautiful young American. Her story is one of hope, and one of faith. It is inspiring and moving." For more information on the Republicans for Life PAC email GOPLifePAC@aol.com |
Abortionist Changes Plea to Guilty in Murder Trial Source: Riverside Press-Enterprise, April 6, 2000 Riverside -- Bruce Steir, who is about to be tried on a murder charge for killing a woman during an abortion, instead pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Wednesday and faces up to a year in jail and five years' probation. Bruce Steir, 69, entered the plea in Riverside County Superior Court as defense attorneys and a prosecutor prepared to pick a jury. The prosecutor said Steir's plea served the interests of justice. The second-degree murder charge was filed after Sharon Hamptlon, 27, of Barstow bled to death in December 1996 after Steir performed an abortion in a Moreno Valley, California abortion facility. Steir was on medical probation at the time but was still allowed to practice. He surrendered his medical license in 1997. A deal emerged unexpectedly Tuesday when the defense raised the possibility of a plea, Deputy District Attorney Kennis Clark said. As a result, the involuntary manslaughter charge was filed; the murder charge will be dropped when Steir is sentenced. Steir, who lives in San Francisco, waived his right to appeal the conviction. In pretrial hearings, Judge Vilia Sherman decided Clark would have the chance to tell jurors about injuries that Steir had caused in two other dangerous abortions. Medical professionals were glad the case was reaching a conclusion and Steir would be found culpable. "Mr. Steir's record . . . of mispractice speaks for itself," said Candis Cohen, spokeswoman for the Medical Board of California. An autopsy determined that Hamptlon bled to death on the ride home to Barstow after her uterus had been perforated during the abortion. From the start, Steir admitted he had made a mistake during the abortion. The trial would have hinged on testimony from Nancy Myles, an ultrasound technician who assisted in Hamptlon's abortion. Myles told authorities that Steir said, "I think I pulled bowel" during the abortion. Myles' description was crucial because reaching the bowel is a clear indication the uterus was perforated, Clark said. A perforated uterus is a known complication during abortions. On Wednesday, the judge indicated that Steir would face no more than a year in jail and five years' probation unless a pre-sentence probation report uncovers aggravating factors. Sentencing was set for May 26. Hamptlon's mother, Doris, said that Steir should go to prison for a "long, long, long, long time." "My child's never coming back," she said. Doris Hamptlon and her husband now care for Hamptlon's son, Curtis Bullorck, who is 7 years old and attends first grade. More than a year ago, the family agreed to a settlement worth up to $2 million in a civil lawsuit against Steir. The abortion facility where the abortion was performed is owned by Joseph Durante, who was placed on two months' probation last year for failing to disclose previous disciplinary action against abortion facility employees. Roe v. Wade: 27 Years of Life Denied http://www.roevwade.org |
