Infamous DC late-term abortion business temporarily halts abortions

UPDATE, 9/4/25: Live Action News uncovered the fact the Washington Surgi-Clinic's license expired in August and has not been renewed. Read details here.

9/3/25: An infamous late-term abortion business in Washington, D.C., has halted abortions — for now.

The Washington Surgi-Clinic has been overseen by abortionist Cesare Santangelo for years; this location is where a medical waste box was obtained in March of 2022, containing the bodies of over 100 aborted children, including five who were nearly full-term when they were killed.

Key Takeaways:

• Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust issued a press release this week stating that Washington Surgi-Clinic has halted abortions at least through the end of the month.

• The facility is known for committing late-term abortions, as there are no limits on abortion in D.C.

• Abortionist Casere Santangelo has been recorded on camera expressing a willingness to allow babies who survive his abortion attempts to die by withholding medical care.

• Washington Surgi-Clinic is the facility where over 100 aborted children were found in a medical waste box in 2022, including five who appeared to be nearly full-term.

The Details:

Pro-life organization Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust issued a press release on Tuesday announcing that the Washington Surgi-Clinic is no longer accepting abortion appointments and has allegedly turned patients away.

A pro-life activist called the facility under the guise of attempting to make an appointment, and the receptionist told the activist the business is not currently taking appointments but hopes to resume abortions in late September.

In addition, the press release references a public statement made one month ago by China Red, a patient of the facility, who said, "I had to fly to dc for my appointment[;] they were very much aware of this[.] when I [got] to dc and I [left] the airport heading straight to the clinic they [called] me and [told] me the doctor had an emergency and my appointment had been cancelled[.] very unprofessional."

It is unclear why the facility has paused abortions; however, Santangelo has made headlines for years, most recently for his health.

In July, he was seen entering his abortion business with a cast on his right arm and he appeared unable to walk without assistance. In a video regarding the incident, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust said they filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requesting information on the malpractice insurance held by the faciity to put the insurer 'on notice' of possible dangers to patients based on Santangelo's appearance and apparent inability to commit abortions.

The group credited its protest of Washington Surgi-Clinic with the temporary halting of abortions.

"The Washington Surgi-Clinic, an infamous late-term abortion facility located in Washington D.C. has halted appointments after activists from The Survivors engaged in a campaign to shut the facility down," the group said in its press release. "... The Survivors compiled numerous complaints and lawsuits filed against Cesare Santangelo, into a 14-page complaint which was filed with the DC Board of Medicine and is currently under review."

As previously reported, medical malpractice attorney Mike Seibel told Live Action News, "A doctor without full use of both arms possibly puts the patient at risk for complications and might also violate 3-1205.14(5) of the District of Columbia code.”

He added that “Authorities should immediately investigate whether he is physically competent to perform this type of procedure without endangering the patient.”

Under that code, a medical license can be revoked when the licensee “is professionally or mentally incompetent or physically incapable.”

The Backstory:

Santangelo first made headlines in 2013 during Live Action's Inhuman investigation. An undercover investigator who was 25 weeks pregnant visited the Washington Surgi-Clinic and spoke with Santangelo, who expressed a willingness to let babies born alive during abortions "expire" without providing medical assistance.

Live Action Investigation Trailer - Washington, DC

During Live Action’s investigation, Santangelo told the undercover investigator, “I cut the umbilical cord first, wait for the baby to expire, and then we do it that way. So hopefully the fetus will expire first….”

Asked if the baby ever moves when he or she comes out, Santangelo responded, “That’s why I try and sever the umbilical cord first, and we wait for that to stop pulsing, and this way the fetus is expired first, so it doesn’t” (emphasis added).

In March of 2022, the facility made headlines again when pro-life activists discovered the bodies of over 100 babies in a medical waste bin being loaded onto a truck for Curtis Bay Energy. Five of the babies appeared to be nearly full-term and experts surmised that some of them could have been born alive.

Nicknamed the 'DC Five,' pro-lifers and lawmakers have sought justice for these children ever since, though D.C. police have refused to investigate their deaths.

It is possible that some were born alive, as another undercover investigation confirmed that Santangelo appears willing to let babies born alive during his abortions die after their live births.

A follow-up undercover investigation found that Santangelo requires pregnant women to take Xanax, a medication that can cause drowsiness and impair memory, before meeting with him and giving their final consent for an abortion.

Undercover Footage From DC Abortion Facility Highlights Human Rights Abuses Against Women & Children

The video footage also shows a nurse telling the undercover patient that she may have to deliver her stillborn (or possibly living, premature) baby alone in her hotel room, admitting, “There is a possibility that you could go into premature labor.”

The nurse then asked the patient to sign paperwork stating that they spoke about the possibility of premature labor, reiterating, “You may go into premature labor and deliver the fetus in your hotel.” She added, “We could just tell you what to do with the remains.” 

The Bottom Line:

For now, Santangelo appears to have ceased committing abortions. In the coming weeks, he may resume abortions himself, or his facility may hire another abortionist willing to kill babies throughout pregnancy.