PENSACOLA, FLORIDA — An abortion doctor who saw three women nearly die under his care is facing a one-year suspension.
Administrative Law Judge William David Watkins recommended the suspension in a 36-page order issued on Tuesday, according to the News Service of Florida. Watkins also recommends that the state permanently prohibit physician Christopher Saputa from performing obstetrical and gynecological surgeries in the future.
The Florida Board of Medicine will make a final ruling based on the recommendation.
“WOEFULLY UNQUALIFIED”
In July 2022, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo ordered an emergency suspension of Saputa’s medical license, calling him “woefully unqualified to perform gynecological surgeries.”
Ladapo claimed that Saputa failed in his treatment of three women who were hospitalized after abortion procedures and nearly died. Additionally, the abortion clinic where the incidents occurred did not report the incidents within the legally required 10 days, according to Ladapo’s report.
BLOOD “SPILLING ONTO THE FLOOR”
In August 2022, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) sought to revoke the license of the Pensacola clinic, American Family Planning (AFP).
According to Ladapo’s 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 two 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.”
SAPUTA BLAMES THE CLINIC
When interviewed by AHCA, Saputa blamed the clinic and refused to accept any responsibility for the harm the patients suffered. In addition to the allegations against Saputa, AHCA said the clinic violated the state’s abortion informed consent laws in over 300 patient cases.
