The clinic was suspended in May for allegedly performing procedures that resulted in the near death of three patients.
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA) is seeking to revoke the license of an abortion clinic in Pensacola after suspending its license in May due to multiple alleged violations of state law, Pensacola News Journal reports.
The most alarming allegations focus on the actions of Dr. Christopher Saputa, a physician at American Family Planning (AFP), the city’s only abortion clinic.
In a 35-page report issued on July 13, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo ordered an emergency suspension of Saputa’s medical license, calling him “woefully unqualified to perform gynecological surgeries.” The report states that Saputa failed in his treatment of three women who were hospitalized after abortion procedures and nearly died. Additionally, AFP did not report the incidents within the legally required 10 days.
DELAYED CALLING EMS
According to the report, the clinic’s office manager – not medically trained staff – performed an ultrasound examination on a patient referred to as “K.J.” After the abortion, the patient began bleeding and Saputa suspected she had suffered a uterine perforation. The clinic did not contact emergency medical services or document vital signs, even though “K.J.” was “thrashing in pain” and “bleeding profusely.” Eventually, after blood was “spilling onto the floor,” AFP called an ambulance.
Another patient, referred to as “D.C.,” suffered a uterine rupture as a result of her procedure. Saputa told the patient’s husband of the possible rupture, but said she was “fine.” He advised the husband to drive her to a hospital in Mobile, Alabama approximately 57 miles away, instead of calling EMS to have her transferred to a local hospital only 2 miles from the clinic. Saputa did not communicate with the Alabama hospital prior to the patient’s arrival. Once arrived, surgeons at the hospital estimated the patient was “minutes away from death.”
BLAMES THE CLINIC
When interviewed by ACHA, Dr. Saputa blamed the clinic and refused to accept any responsibility for the harm the patients suffered. In addition to the allegations against Saputa, ACHA said the clinic violated the state’s abortion informed consent laws in over 300 patient cases.
AFP will appeal the decision, the clinic’s attorney Julie Gallagher told NPR affiliate WUWF in May. When The Florida Standard tried to reach Gallagher for an update on the case, her law firm said that she was unavailable for comment.
Abortion is legal in Florida up to 15 weeks from conception.
Read the full report below:
