12/14/00
Abortion Practitioner Still Working at Catholic Hospital
Granite City, IL -- Contrary to recent news reports, an abortion
practitioner who owns and operates an abortion facility in a St. Lous
suburb across the street from a Catholic hospital still holds a position
as the lead OBGYN doctor at the hospital.
Dr. Yogendra Shah, who has worked at the St. Elizabeth Medical Center in
Granite City for several years, had been appointed chief of staff of the
obstetrics and gynecology department, but when protests erupted after
media reports that Shah operated an abortion facility, the hospital
removed Shah as chief of staff.
The recent news recevied nationwide coverage from the Pro-Life Infonet and
oyther news sources. However, once the story broke, St. Elizabeth Medical
Center claimed in a press release sent out by the Diocese of Springfield
that Shah was "terminated" from his "temporary appointment as chief of the
OB/GYN department." But it claimed that the hospital was legally bound to
retain Shah in its employ. The Diocese of Springfield said their
interpretation of federal law says they are not allowed to fire him or
take away his normal privileges.
To add to the confusion, the pro-life group Human Life International, sent
out an incorrect press release seemingly indicating Shah was no longer
employed at the hospital.
A local family active in area pro-life efforts offers further insight into
the situation. Angela and Daniel Michael, who use their family van as a
roving crisis pregnancy centre offering counselling, comfort and resources
to women considering abortion note that the history of the abortion
facility is tied to the hospital since it sits on former hospital grounds.
Angela Michael reveals that the hospital (likely unknowingly) sold the
land across the street around 1974 to notorious abortion practitioner
Hector Zevallos, who currently operates a host of abortion facilities in
the US.
Michael recalls that in 1981 Zevallos brought Shah -- then working at St.
Elizabeth's -- on staff at the abortion facility. The following year the
Zevallos was kidnapped and eventually Shah purchased the abortion facility
from Zevallos.
Shah has been working as an abortion practitioner since 1981 and took over
ownership and the position as chief abortion practitioner in 1982. The
press release from the Springrfield Diocese states that it was only, "in
1995" that "St. Elizabeth Medical Center discovered that Dr. Shah was
performing abortion procedures at the Hope Clinic." Angela Michael
challenges the truthfulness of that statement. She has court documents on
lawsuits regarding botched abortions from 1989, 1990 and 1992 which named
Shah, the Hope Clinic and St. Elizabeth's, proving that the hospital was
in fact aware of Shah's abortion business well before 1995.
While the hospital suggests in the press release that Shah's appointment
as chief OB/GYN was "temporary," Michael notes that friends at the
hospital have confirmed he has held that position for some 8 years.
Moreover, while the hospital says that Shah's elevated position is
terminated, Michael's contacts at the hospital suggest that the
announcement was merely a ruse and that nothing has changed at the
hospital.
However, St. Elizabeth spokesperson Karen Lanter says in an interview that
the new chief OB/GYN is Dr. Dennis Hurford.
Angela Michael recalls that four years ago there was also pressure on the
hospital to end the scandal of having an abortion practitioner on staff.
At that time, the hospital suggested that Shah's position at the hospital
was terminated.
According to the Springfield Diocese press release "St. Elizabeth Medical
Center remains Catholic in every respect and in fact, generously supports
pro-life activities in the Granite City area." Kathie Sass, spokeswoman
for the diocese said that the hospital is largely responsible for a
pregnancy care trailer situated behind the abortion facility.
However, Michael notes that the trailer is hardly ever open -- even though
times are posted to the contrary. A recent report indicates the hospital
claims it does not have the manpower to staff the pregnancy care center.
However, Michael, who is a registered nurse specializing in obstetrics,
says she has often volunteered to staff the hospital's center but has been
regularly refused. She also questions the "generous support" the diocese
claims the hospital provides the pro-life community since her van (that is
used as a make-shift pregnancy care center to assist women who find the
hospital's care center locked) is not allowed parking in the lot of the
hospital.
Michael notes that while cars of pro-life advocates are ordered out of the
hospital's parking lot, the cars of those seeking abortions are left
alone.
Most recently, a guard at the abortion facility was charged with battery
after striking Daniel Michael. Police arrested the guard after the
incident, which authorities said was recorded on a surveillance video
camera across the street.
The Michael's still hope to raise awareness of the goings-on at the
hospital and the abortion facility. Angela Michael has been writing the
current bishop, George Lucas, since his appointment last year and had
written former Bishop Daniel Ryan for 4 years.
Bishop Ryan, who was retired early from his position in the diocese after
a widely circulated scandal over homosexuality, had received letters from
pro-lifers concerned about Shah's practices since the 1980s. According to
Angela Michaels, "he did nothing" about it. Angela hopes Bishop Lucas will
step in, and if nothing can be done to remove Shah from the hospital,
perhaps the Bishop could request more generous help from St. Elizabeth's
for the crisis pregnancy center.
Please contact the following with your concerns:
Bishop George Lucas, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, 1615 West
Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702, Ph: (217) 698-8500, FAX: (217)
698-0802, glucas@dio.org.
St. Elizabeth Medical Center, 2100 Madison Ave, Granite City, IL 62040,
(800) 559-9992 or (618) 798-3000
Source:
Pro-Life Infonet #2310, 12/14/00
LifeSite News, EWTN, Pro-Life Infonet, December 13,
2000; St. Louis Post-Dispatch; November 22, 2000
Note from Voice For Life: We contacted Bishop Lucas on December 14 for his
perspective on this situation, but have not received a reply.
