BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 18, 2013: In an age where abortion advocates cry for access to “safe and legal” abortions, the illegally reopened New Women All Women abortion clinic is providing the exact opposite. The Birmingham abortion facility is supposed to be shut down, but is marketing abortion procedures without a license in a facility that was permanently closed by the Alabama Department of Public Health last spring. Life Legal Defense Foundation is now pressuring authorities to once again shut down this hazardous operation. A press conference was be held by Fr. Terry Gensemer of CEC for Life, and other concerned citizens, on Tuesday, March 19, across the street from the New Woman All Women facility on the northwest corner of 10th Avenue and 17th Street South.
This clinic has a history of creating hazards to the health of women. Clinic operator, Diane Derzis, agreed to comply with the closure and surrender her license, which she did on May 18 of last year. That was the final step in the health department’s prohibition of abortions at the notoriously unsafe clinic.
Despite the forced closure of Derzis’ abortion business, the clinic is apparently operating in full swing. According to Derzis’ website and the business’ phone service, abortions are available and being performed at the site. Bruce Norman has served the clinic as abortionist of record in the past. His presence at the now “closed” clinic would reinforce the reports that abortions are currently – and illegally – available.
“This is an outrageous and unconscionable disregard for all women. For Derzis to defiantly reopen a clinic that was forcibly closed is an unbelievably arrogant slap in the face to the State of Alabama, the city of Birmingham, and every law abiding business operator in the state,” exclaimed Dana Cody, Executive Director of the Life Legal Defense Foundation. “Derzis is intentionally putting the safety and health of women at risk by knowingly violating a legal agreement meant to keep her out of the business because of repeated health and safety abuses,” elaborated Cody. “We are making certain that the evidence of this insubordinate action is being presented to the proper authorities” she added, “If the health department would not allow a rodent-infested restaurant to reopen, it most assuredly ought not to allow an unlicensed clinic to perform invasive surgery on women.”
Breaking News: As Tuesday’s press conference was in progress, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) issued a news release stating that they are conducting an ongoing investigation into the Birmingham Clinic.
Documentation of current activity at the illegal clinic along with the original deficiency reports and closure orders are available here:
– March 2013 Letter to the Alabama Department of Public Health
– September 2012 Letter to the Attorney General
– Current online information about abortion service from clinic website
(this screenshot accompanied the September 2012 letter and remains identical to what is posted, as of as of March 18, 2013)
– The April 2012 Consent Order in which clinic agreed to relinquish its license to operate
– The March 2012 Alabama Department of Public Health Deficiency Report on conditions leading to the clinic closure
– The original January 2012 Physicians for Life report on activities at the clinic