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By Denver Sallee
On July 20, 2011 Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed into law The Viable Infants Protection Act sponsored by Senator Peggy Lehner banning abortion generally after 20 weeks gestation. The law has no exceptions for rape or incest, and has only the narrow exception allowing late-term abortion after 20 weeks if the mother's physical life is in danger or if she faces "serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function."
If a pregnant woman seeking an abortion is at 20 weeks gestation or older, the doctor must test the child to see if he or she is viable. If the determination is made that the child is viable, an abortion cannot be performed except in the case of a medical emergency, in which case the abortion must be performed where there is a neonatal care facility and done using the method that is most likely to permit the child to survive. In addition, another doctor must be present to care for the child. The bill also requires doctors to report on circumstances that still allow an abortion to take place, and holds physicians accountable for failing to determine viability prior to performing later-term abortions. Under these circumstances, the abortionist also has to certify that he could not end the pregnancy in a way that would give the unborn child the best chance to survive without risking greater danger to the mother.
Preterm provides abortions through 23 weeks and their neighbor Abortion Access provides abortions through 22.6 weeks . Both of these abortion providers are in seeming violation of the 2011 Ohio law. We will be taking action on several fronts including contacting Ohio Governor John Kasich, and Senator Peggy Lehner about this apparent violation of state law.
Lisa Perriera, abortionist at Preterm, is an Ob/Gyn on staff at University Hospitals Cleveland. In our communication earlier this week, we reported " a collaborative effort between University Hospital and Preterm, noted in Preterm's 2010 Annual report (page 5) published online in July 2011, Lisa Perriera's presence on their staff enabled them to expand abortion services up to 23 weeks." and asked that readers contact Thomas Zenty CEO of UH Cleveland at this number (216) 844-0474 and respectfully request that UH cease all connection with the Cleveland abortion industry. At the very least the hospital must respond to the concerns of Ohio citizens about the possible violation of state law. Several callers managed to get through calling the number listed at that time. Others only got a recording, On Wednesday I called the UH switchboard 216.844.1000 and asked to talk with Tom Zenty or his secretary or to have either one's email address. I was told by the operator that she is forbidden to disclose that information. She informed me that she would take my name, number, time of the call and my concern and forward that information to the CEO's office. As of this update none of those who have reported that they called have heard from Mr. Zenty or anyone from his office or the administration at University Hospital.
Considering that there has been no response from Mr. Zenty and that every day children are dying a horrible death in these "clinics", it is now time to contact the University Hospital Executive Directors and Board of Directors to respectfully ask for an explanation about the hospital's abortion policy.
Denver Sallee is co- founder of HELP (SS Helen, Edward & Lucy Prolife)
UH Executives
Thomas F. Zenty III Chief Executive Officer
Achilles S. Demetriou M.D., Ph.D., FACS President and Chief Operating Officer
James Benedict Jr. President of UH Ahuja Medical Center
Nathan Levitan M.D. President of The Uh Seidman Cancer Center
Fred C. Rothstein M.D. President of University Hospitals Case Medical Center
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UH Board of Directors
Alfred M. Rankin Jr. Chairman, Board of Directors (no contact information available)
Board Members
Joel Adelman
Ralph Della Ratta Jr.
Penni Weinberg
Jacqueline Woods
Monte Ahuja
Katherine Asbeck
Matthew Figgie
Catherine Kilbane Esq.
Ramon Lugo III
Lee Seidman
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