The right wing has predictably picked up on the story of an poorly or unregulated business in Philadelphia in which a doctor allegedly murdered newborns.
We all know the story.
This business can not fairly be called an abortion clinic or an abortion mill. In my opinion, this was was an poorly or unregulated business... and a killing field.
The right wing is conflating the murders and maimings commited by this man with abortion because some of his victims were newborn preemies. There were other victims as well - maimed women.
But these were not abortions; they were murders. If the reports can be believed, his procedure was to prematurely induce labor, prematurely deliver a viable fetus, and then murder the newborn preemie by severing the spinal cord with scissors.
Well, I'm here to tell ya - severing the spinal cord with scissors is not a recognized medical/surgical procedure. In my twenty years of ER and ICU work as an RN, I never encountered it, never heard of it, was not trained in it, never attended a seminar about it, never read it in a procedure book, was not licensed or tested to assist with or perform it, never heard physicians discussing it. Not once. As in never. Ever. And frankly, when it comes to invasive procedures, I got around.
As far as I know, this is not a standard medical technique or procedure and therefore can not be classified as one, i.e., abortion.
By the way: Using unlicensed, unregulated personnel as is alleged, is not standard of practice. Using unsterile instruments, as is alleged, is not standard of practice. Reusing disposable supplies, as is alleged, is not standard of practice. Falsifying/ destroying medical records, as is alleged; not standard of practice. Keeping cats and dogs in the vicinity of clients; not standard of practice.
This was NOT a medical facility. I think it is a mistake to call it that. It was an poorly or unregulated business: a chop shop... a killing field.
But it was not an abortion clinic.