DC clinic removed from National Abortion Federation website after 'legal notice'

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) has removed the Washington Surgi-Clinic, a late-term abortion facility operated by Dr. Cesare Santangelo in the District of Columbia, from its website search just weeks after a pro-life group put NAF 'on notice' that it could be at risk of legal action if it referred abortion clients to the facility.

The legal notices claimed to have "evidence to the risk, danger, and liability Dr. Santangelo brings to patients by continuing to operate and practice."

Key Takeaways:

• The pro-life group Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust sent legal notices in September to several abortion industry organizations, specifying that they could be held legally liable if they continue to refer abortion clients to the Washington Surgi-Clinic in Washington, D.C.

• The National Abortion Federation, possibly in response to receiving such a notice, has removed the facility's listing from its website search.

• The facility's abortionist is Dr. Cesare Santangelo, who was exposed in a Live Action investigation stating that he performs dangerous umbilical cord transections during abortions, and that he would not help an infant who survived an abortion.

• In 2022, a box of approximately 100 aborted children was obtained from Santangelo's facility, and five of the babies found inside were victims of late-term abortion.

The Backstory:

Live Action News previously documented that the Washington Surgi-Clinic's operational license had actually expired on August 10, 2025.

On September 1, 2025, Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust addressed legal notices to the National Abortion Federation (NAF), the DC Abortion Fund (DCAF), the Lilith Fund, and the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF). National referral agencies like AbortionFinder.org, which were not issued legal notices at that time, also refer clients to the late-term facility.

The notices included an August 18th, 2025 multipage complaint formally submitted to the Board of Medicine in Washington, D.C., documenting concerns regarding the Washington Surgi-Clinic and the facility’s current medical doctor, Dr. Cesare Santangelo:

• The complaint alleged that Santangelo’s abortion practices and current health condition contributed to several women’s injuries and complications and/or put women at risk of injury.

• The complaint referenced video footage documenting Santangelo entering his late-term abortion facility with some sort of cast on his right arm, requiring assistance to walk.

• Santangelo was previously recorded in an undercover Live Action investigation stating that neither he nor his staff would provide assistance to an infant who survived abortion. In March 2022, the bodies of five nearly full-term aborted babies were recovered in medical waste obtained from his abortion facility by two anti-abortion activists present at the facility.

The legal notice sent to NAF read in part:

Should anyone be referred to receive or obtain funding to receive the subpar care available at Washington Surgi-Clinic from this point forward after being formally put on notice, it would constitute a negligent referral, as referring physicians and agencies have been put on notice of possible subpar care occurring at the clinic.

The NAF has a duty to their clients to investigate and determine if Washington Surgi Clinic is following Standards of Care regarding late term induction abortions, umbilical cord transections (UCT’s), and dilation and evacuation (D&E) procedures for late term abortions. In addition, NAF has a duty to their clients to ensure Dr. Ceasare Santangelo is competent and physically able to perform surgeries prior to referring any patient to Washington Surgi Clinic. Failure to perform such due diligence and a detailed investigation will not only expose the National Abortion Federation to a lawsuit for negligent referral but may also form the basis of a large punitive damage award in the future.

After receiving this letter, the National Abortion Federation will be unable to deny the possible inherently dangerous conditions that exist at the Washington Surgi Clinic. As the safety of women is at risk, your prompt attention is required to investigate this matter fully and completely prior to referring any patients to this facility.

What are Legal Notices?

Medical malpractice attorney Mike Seibel previously explained to Live Action News the concept of filing a 'legal notice,' noting that these documents could be sent anytime an abortion business is operating outside the standard of care or is potentially placing its clients at risk.

“[I]f notices were sent warning the abortion industry of the extreme dangers of late-term abortions outside the hospital, and Big Abortion continued to perform those procedures in an outpatient facility, that could form the basis of a large punitive damage award,” Seibel previously stated.

One of the best examples of a corporation being put ‘on notice’ for creating unreasonably dangerous conditions is that of the case against McDonald’s for knowingly keeping its coffee heated to temperatures with the potential to cause serious injury. Read those details here.

Carole Novielli

@CaroleNovielli

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Late-term abortion clinics nationwide are potentially placing women’s lives in danger by committing late-term inductions in facilities not equipped to handle life threatening complications. NOTE: Abortion kills a human being and is never justified. 🧵/ 1

3:06 PM · Sep 3, 2025

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The Details:

Despite being removed from the NAF website, as of the writing of this article, the Washington Surgi-Clinic's website continues to note that it is a member of the NAF and partners with NNAF.

Santangelo appears to be rerouting abortion clients to NAF, according to a recent release from Survivors. The group previously noted that the receptionist for the facility said the business hoped to resume abortions in late September.

In addition, despite a lengthy and detailed formal complaint as well as testimony by members of Survivors before the DC Medical Board, Santangelo's medical license has not yet been formally disciplined or revoked. And, as of the writing of this article, his license to practice remains in good standing.

The Context:

Santangelo was recorded in an undercover Live Action investigation, where the abortionist appeared to describe a dangerous umbilical cord transection (UCT) procedure and expressed willingness to allow infants born alive during abortions to “expire” without medical assistance. These procedures fall outside the standard of care.

Inhuman: Undercover in America's Late-Term Abortion Industry - Washington, D.C.

Asked if the baby ever moves when it 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).

Then, in March of 2022, the bodies of five nearly full-term aborted babies were found in medical waste obtained from his abortion facility. At this time, Santangelo received the nickname the "Butcher of D.C."

“Umbilical cord transection often requires a doctor to reach far into the uterus in an attempt to locate the umbilical cord. 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,” Mike Seibel previously told Live Action News. "Authorities should immediately investigate whether he is physically competent to perform this type of procedure without endangering the patient.”

That code suggests that the revocation of a license could be imposed when the licensee “is professionally or mentally incompetent or physically incapable.”

The Bottom Line:

The move by NAF to remove the late-term facility from its website (avoiding potential punitive damages should an injury claim be filed) is a positive step forward. It is a sign that putting Big Abortion and their referral agencies on legal notice can impact change.