Maryland medical board yawns while abortionist operates illegally

It’s a story similar to one we’ve heard before: an abortionist currently “under review” by the state continues to commit abortions while the medical board and abortion lobby appear undisturbed.

Recall the case of Kermit Gosnell, who ran what has been dubbed an abortion “house of horrors” in Philadelphia for years, while, despite several complaints, authorities turned a blind eye to his actions.

Now, the pro-life group Operation Rescue has reported that Harold O. Alexander, charged by the Maryland Board of Medicine in 2015 for conducting surgical abortions at an unlicensed facility, has been caught allegedly doing it again – and in response, the medical board intends to keep the complaint “on file.”

Blatant disregard for the health of women is common in an industry that kills preborn children and clearly does not have the highest ethical standards. But those who are charged with oversight of these “professionals” are also at fault when they ignore reports of illegal and dangerous activity. Case in point is the way the medical board of Pennsylvania ignored Gosnell’s actions. Gosnell was arrested and charged with the murder of several babies whose spines were “snipped” with scissors after birth as well as the murder of patient Karnamaya Mongar. According to the Grand Jury report, several agencies ignored his actions for years. One of those agencies was the state’s medical licensing board:

Between 2002 and 2009, the grand jury learned, attorneys for the state’s medical licensing board reviewed five cases against Gosnell. They closed three without investigation. The last two were investigated and closed without action -including the death of a 22-year-old whose family sued Gosnell and received a $400,000 settlement.

Between 2002 and 2009, Board of Medicine attorneys reviewed five cases involving malpractice and other complaints against Gosnell. (The Grand Jury also received records of three older complaints – from 1983, 1990, and 1992 – one of which resulted in a reprimand.) None of the assigned attorneys, or their supervisors, suggested that the Board take action against the deviant doctor. In fact, despite serious allegations, three of the cases were closed without any investigation. The other two were investigated and then closed – without any action being taken.

You may recall that Gosnell’s facility was only raided after reports of illegal prescription drug activity – not because the NAF or Planned Parenthood reported his unsanitary practices to authorities – because they didn’t, even though they knew.

Today, enter Maryland abortionist Harold O. Alexander.

Abortionist Harold O. Alexander (Image: screen grab from WJSA news report)

In past investigative reports, Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor for Operation Rescue, accused Harold O. Alexander of operating an illegal late-term abortion facility with notorious abortionist James Pendergraft. In addition, in 2013, the pro-life group reported:

[T]he Maryland Office of Health Care Quality inspected Alexander’s office on Monday, October 21, 2013, and discovered that not only was Alexander’s abortion business unlicensed, but he was allowing unqualified “Med Aids” to administer IV drugs and sedation in violation of Maryland Code Regulations, which requires such medications be administered only by a physician or qualified nurse anesthetist. Alexander’s practices mirror those of Pennsylvania abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted earlier this year of three counts of murder and hundreds of other abortion-related crimes.

In addition, Alexander had no Registered Nurse in his employment even though Maryland Code Regulations require that an RN must be present when surgical abortions take place. Comparing the negligent actions of the Pennsylvania’s licensing board with that of Maryland where abortionist Harold O. Alexander has been caught performing abortions yet again and we see glaring similarities. The most current complaint charging Alexander with “unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine” reveals a pattern of misconduct by the abortionist.

Alexander’s “patter of misconduct” appears to have continued, as the bullet points below from his most recent disciplinary actions indicate:

• August 22, 2012: Three months suspension after a consent decree alleged that Alexander failed to meet the standard of quality care of the care of his patients and that he engaged in unprofessional conduct with his patients: kissing, hugging and sexually inappropriate comments
• April 4, 2013: Suspension terminated – two years probation
• December 19, 2013: Cease and desist order from performing abortions in an unlicensed facility issued by the board after Alexander was found to be performing surgical abortions in an unlicensed facility. This resulted in a three month suspension in April of 2014 along with three years probation.
• July 2014: The disciplinary panel issued a stay in Alexander’s suspension.
• July 2015: Charged with unprofessional conduct in the practice of medicine – still under review

Now, Operation Rescue reports that they have obtained video evidence from a pro-life activist in Maryland who filmed activity at Alexander’s office, indicating that the abortionist may again be performing surgical abortions in violation of the current board order.

Following this information, an Operation Rescue staffer placed a call to Alexander’s office, posing as a woman seeking an abortion at 17 weeks gestation. A man on the line identifies himself as “Dr. Alexander.” The audio is below:

Abortionist Caught Red Handed Doing Illegal Midnight Abortions

Operation Rescue claims that the procedure needed for an abortion at 17 weeks would indeed be a surgical abortion – the very procedure he is currently barred from performing. At 17 weeks gestation, the procedure would most likely be a D&E, described in the video below by former abortionist Dr. Anthony Levatino:

2nd Trimester Surgical Abortion: Dilation and Evacuation (D & E)

In response to the information they received, Operation Rescue filed a complaint and requested that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, “shut down Alexander’s illegal abortion operation pending the outcome of revocation proceedings.” However, instead of sending inspectors to Alexander’s facility to confirm the allegations, the state board issued the following response:

The Board of Physicians (the “Board”) is in receipt of your complaint regarding the above-mentioned physician.

As you are aware, Dr. Alexander was charged by the Board on July 8, 2015. Based on the current pending charges and to avoid duplicative resources, your complaint will be kept on file with the Board.

Tragically, Operation Rescue reports that Alexander is not the only dangerous abortionist which the Maryland Medical Board appears to be turning a blind eye. Despite a history of documented botched abortions, including two documented abortion deaths, late term abortion doctor Leroy Carhart continues to commit abortions on his unsuspecting patients at the Germantown Reproductive Health Services (GRHS) clinic with no public disciplinary actions against him.

“With Carhart’s advanced age and the increasing frequency of life-threatening abortion emergencies, it becomes obvious that competency issues must be addressed,” Operation Rescue President Troy Newman stated after Carhart’s most recent abortion emergency.

911 Confirms Carhart Nearly Killed Late Term Abortion Patient!

Carhart is a proven menace that has already killed two patients and continues to pose a serious danger to woman. If the Maryland Medical Board continues to turn a blind eye to this growing danger, there is no doubt that Carhart will kill again — as he nearly did just a few days ago.

In the Gosnell case, the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine finally got serious and suspended Gosnell’s medical license in 2010 after federal drug agents raided Gosnell’s facility. In their suspension, the board cited “an immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety.” The report before the grand jury described Gosnell’s abortion facility as, “filthy, with fetal remains filling a freezer and clogging drains.”

Gosnell’s license was finally revoked in October of 2013 and he was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted on three counts of first-degree murder for killing children outside the womb. He also received 2 1/2 to 5 years for the death of Karnamaya Mongar.

Despite the obvious negligent way authorities ignored Gosnell’s conduct, the lesson has not been learned. And, in the Gosnell case as well as Alexander’s and Carhart’s, authorities are again slow to act.

What it will take to prompt the Maryland authorities to act, to protect both women and babies?