Hearing to revoke license of MD late-term abortionist who OD’d and killed patient
UDPATE, 6/3, 4:15p: Operation Rescue has an update on this case. The June 1 hearing was merely before a MD Board of Physicians subcommittee. “[T]his matter is far from final resolution,” reported OR’s Cheryl Sullenger.
OR also found Ferrer has been disciplined for other infractions over the years, including “an incident where he knowingly sewed a metal surgical instrument into a patient,” according to OR.
6/1, 9:53a: He’s flown under the radar for decades, but tomorrow MD late-term abortionist Romeo Ferrer will get his day in court, so to speak.
For 3 long years the MD State Board of Physicians has allowed the 70-year-old Ferrer to continue slicing and dicing at his Gynecare Center at 877 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd. in Severna Park after knowing a claim of malpractice had been filed against him by a dead mother’s estate….
Finally, tomorrow, the Board will meet to decide whether to “impose disciplinary sanctions against the Respondent’s license, including revocation, suspension, or reprimand and may place the Respondent on probation, and/or may impose a monetary fee.”
The claim and subsequent investigation show that on February 3, 2006, 21-year-old “Patient A” came to Ferrer for a 2nd trimester D&E abortion at 16 weeks gestation. She had a history of 2 previous abortions and the live birth of a 3-year-old son. Her reason for aborting this pregnancy, according to the chart, was, “can’t afford it right now.”
Ferrer doesn’t use general anesthesia, so he initially gave her 125 mg of Demerol IV push for pain and 5 mg of Versed, which causes short-term amnesia.
5 minutes later Ferrer gave her an additional 125 mg of Demerol and 5 mg of Versed IVP because “pt. was still reacting to pain….”
After the abortion, Ferrer failed to monitor the patient’s vital signs monitor her pulse ox, or give her any supplemental oxygen. It was only when the “surgical assistant” noticed Patient A’s fingernail beds were blue did anyone realize something was wrong. Ferrer proceeded to start pushing resuscitation meds and initiate CPR, incredibly still without giving her any oxygen.
Only after giving her a couple resuscitation meds did anyone call 911. Patient A was pronounced dead at Anne Arundel Medical Center a little over an hour later.
Cause of death listed was, “Meperidine [Demerol] Intoxication.” It was determined Ferrer gave Patient A too much Demerol too quickly and then failed to monitor her properly.
Read the complaint here.
Pro-life activists led by Jack Ames have launched the website RetireFerrer.com and are holding a press conference today.
Tomorrow activists will hold graphic signs in front of the hearing building, “so physicians see photos of aborted babies,” Ames told me by phone this morning.
Ames is asking pro-lifers to write “courteous, professional, and persuasive” letters to Dr. Paul Elder [pictured right], Chairman of the Maryland Board of Physicians, at 4201 Patterson Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21215, asking him to revoke Ferrer’s medical license.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
A textbook example of why complications, handicaps, and deaths caused by “safe and legal” abortions are not reported, giving the erroneous statistic that abortion is safer than childbirth.
“Retire” Ferrer?
How about “lock-the-slapchopper-up-and-throw-away-the-key” Ferrer?
Is that courteous, persuasive, and professional enough?
Sadly, financial help may have been available. I know it is tough to make ends meet in AA county even if you are little above 300% poverty level. but if she were at or below this level of income, there were state health progams to help cover cost of pregnancy/delivery and cost of health ins for child…
http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mchp/index.html
“The Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) gives full health benefits for children up to age 19, and pregnant women of any age who meet the income guidelines. MCHP enrollees obtain care from a variety of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) through the Maryland HealthChoice Program.
Q: Who is eligible?
A: Pregnant women of any age, whose countable income is at or below 250% FPL.”
Also:
http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mchp/pdf/MCHPPremium-Coverpage060804.pdf
A 70 yr old abortionist? Dang…these old murderous old coots should have already been retired.
Is it because very few (if any) of the young MD grads are taking up this murderous profession?
“We care, we listen, we help?” We care to take your money, we listen only to what we want to hear, we help ourselves to more money.
Why won’t women even consider adoption when finances are an issue? Is it better to put your health and life in danger, subject your baby to a HORRIBLE death by dismemberment and live with guilt all because you won’t consider adoption? I don’t understand the disconnect in these ladies’ brains.
I agree Sydney, it’s like, “if I can’t have her, no one can” mentality. “I couldn’t bear the thought of my child being out there and me not knowing her, so I think I’ll kill her instead.” Disconnect is a mild way of putting it.
Peg, Sydney, I must admit to the disconnect you speak of. Decades ago, when I was rushed into my decision by a greedy doctor, I was afraid that adoption would haunt me. I was afraid that I would see my child everywhere, in the faces of all children that age, and I was afraid that it would be overwhelming. How wrong I was!! Things have changed a lot over the years. Open adoptions weren’t even heard of in my youth. And I had no idea that my child’s untimely death would haunt me the way it has. How I wish I could receive a phone call or email from an adult who says he might be my son. Roe v Wade wasn’t that old yet, and absolutely no one in my life had had the experience to say, “no, death will haunt you; life will give you hope.”
Ninek, that is so truly sad. Thank you for sharing your story with me. What can be done then to change women’s minds? To let them know the truth?
I worked with a lady who put her son up for adoption at 18. At 43 she wept as she spoke of her son (she later had anther son whom she raised). But she also told me she was proud of herself for doing something so difficult when all her family was against her decision and that she felt good knowing her son was out there with a family and a life.
My friends who have had abortions also weep. But there is not hopeful afterthought. There is no pride at what they’ve done. Adoption is hard but at least there is hope with it. Abortion is also hard and there is a finality to it and with it all hope is gone.
From MedTV:
“The standard dosage of Demerol for relieving pain is 50 to 150 mg every three to four hours as needed. The recommended dose for preoperative use (with injectable Demerol) is 50 to 100 mg given 30 to 60 minutes before the start of anesthesia. The usual recommended dose for use during labor is 50 to 100 mg injected intramuscularly or subcutaneously once pain becomes regular.”
Note that the injections in labor are not IV pushes, but the slower route of absorption. Rather than titrate up in 20 mg increments, this guy mainlined another 125 mg, doubling the dose What was the patient’s size and weight? No pulse ox, no O2, no monitoring post-op. No O2 during CPR. No 911 call at the initiation of CPR.
If that doesn’t merit a revocation of license, monetary fine, and recommendation to the local prosecutor that Ferrer demonstrated gross negligence and depraved indifference to human life, then Maryland’s medical community will have demonstrated a deep and systemic collusion with a cancerous blight on their profession.
That it has taken three years to have a hearing on those facts in conjunction with the patient’s death is deeply disturbing.
Abortion corrupts everything and everyone who participate in it.
I would love for Dr. Paul Elder, Chairman of the Maryland Board of Physicians, to prove himself the exception to this grisly rule.
Sydney, thanks for your kindness. What can be done? I ask myself that frequently. How can we normalize the concept of adoption? How can we make it fashionable to be pregnant and making adoption arrangements? Films like “Bella” and “Juno” help a lot but we need more. In order for women to make healthier choices, they need to be able to visualize the path ahead. The unknown is very frightening. (That’s the lie abortionists sell: ‘you can go back to being who you were before you got pregnant.’) But what can be imagined, seen in the mind’s eye, is easier to do. We must help young pregnant women IMAGINE themselves bringing hope to their children, not death. I pray daily for the guidance to do just that. I also think “Silent No More” and “40 Days for Life” are fantastic!!!