An abortion provider whose clinic
has been in operation since the 1980s has been arrested on charges of providing
abortion-inducing drugs to women who were not pregnant.
Authorities arrested Nareshkumar G.
Patel of Warr Acres at his clinic on Tuesday, later being booked into the
Oklahoma County jail.
Aaron Cooper of the Oklahoma
Attorney General's Office provided The Christian Post with a
statement regarding the arrest from Attorney General Scott Pruitt. "This type of fraudulent
activity and blatant disregard for the health and well-being of Oklahoma women
will not be tolerated," said Pruitt. "Oklahoma women should be able
to trust that the advice they receive from their physicians is truthful,
accurate and does not jeopardize their health."
The arrest derived from an
inter-agency effort made by agents of the Attorney General's Office, Warr Acres
Police Department and Oklahoma City Police Department. "An investigation into Patel's
dubious practices arose from a complaint that he had performed an abortion
procedure on Pamela King, even though she was not pregnant," noted the
press release given to CP.
"King was diagnosed and died
from complications of cervical cancer later that year, and her autopsy
determined that she had not been pregnant in the time frame that the abortion
procedure occurred."
In June, authorities began an
undercover investigation in which three women visited Patel at separate
sessions and had the abortion provider secretly recorded, noted local media. According to authorities, Patel
falsely told the women that they were pregnant after conducting an ultrasound
and then charged $620 each for providing abortion-inducing drugs.
Dr. Patel's clinic, Outpatient
Services for Women, was founded in 1984 and has facilities in Texas, Kansas,
and Arkansas. "We understand that terminating
a pregnancy may be a difficult situation and that is why our friendly staff is
available to help you through the process," noted its website.
"In our clinic you can be
assured that you will be in a comfortable atmosphere and we also ensure you
privacy and confidentiality." The allegation of fraud has not been
the first time that Patel's practice has face such accusation, according to
Nolan Clay and Robby Trammell of Newsok.com.
"Patel has been the center of
controversy repeatedly since getting his medical license in Oklahoma in May
1984," reported Clay and Trammell.
"In the most notorious
incident, he burned 55 aborted fetuses in 1992 in a field east of Shawnee. He
was investigated over the incident but never charged." Lorryn McGarry, communications
director with the Holy Innocents' Foundation of Oklahoma, which has a chapel
near the clinic, told CP that her organization had been long aware of the
"many greivances" against Patel. "We were therefore not
surprised to hear of his arrest. He is still a Child of God, and we continue to
pray for his conversion of heart, a fair trial, and a just sentence," said
McGarry.
"It is truly saddening to see
disregard for one form of life become a disregard for so many others, as well,
should he be found guilty of these charges." McGarry also told CP that "just
seeing the state intervening and insuring that abortion clinics are held to the
same standard as other medical clinics is always a pro-life victory." If Patel is found guilty of the
three charges of fraud he could face as much as three years of prison time.
Source: Christianpost.com
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