(Washington, D.C.): This Thursday, October 16th, the Nebraska Legislature will be holding a legislative review regarding abortion clinics in the state. State Senator Rick Holdcroft of Nebraska District 36 introduced the legislative resolution, proposing “an interim study to determine the quality of patient services at abortion clinics in Nebraska and the nature and quality of state oversight of those clinics.”
This review comes as result of an ongoing investigation by the Center for Client Safety (CCS) who originally received complaints involving Bellevue Health Clinic (DBA: CARE Reproductive Health LLC), formerly affiliated with the late Dr. Leroy Carhart, a notorious late-term abortion provider. With the help of local Nebraska partners, CCS has worked to bring to light serious concerns that must be raised to the review committee.
The Center for Client Safety has made formal complaints to relevant state enforcement agencies including the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services regarding clinic and physician-specific violations including the continued public advertising of Dr. Carhart as the current provider as well as alleged dispensing of medications without the proper licensure.
CCS, alongside Americans United for Life (AUL), hopes this legislative inquiry will further the efforts of the investigation, ensuring abortion clinics and affiliated their providers are held accountable in law and regulation.
Amy Gehrke, Chief Impact Officer for CCS, who also plans to provide in-person comment during the review, emphasized, “The Center for Client Safety has been investigating complaints at Bellevue Health Clinic for more than three years, striving to ensure women in Nebraska and beyond are protected with the same commonsense safeguards expected to be upheld by any other medical provider. We will continue to ensure accountability and thank Senator Holdcroft alongside other members of the Nebraska legislature who are serving their constituents by helping bring light to our investigation.”
Steve Aden, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for AUL, added, “Abortion clinics and providers must be held to the same standards as all other health care entities. Law and regulation must prevail without preference for political agenda. Americans United for Life stands fully behind the efforts of this investigation and urges the legislative review committee to ensure that the appropriate agencies fulfill their duties in enforcing and found violation of the code.”
Director of Investigations at CCS, Christine Smith, has also submitted a separate written testimony to be reviewed by the legislative review committee.
Read the legislative resolution here.
For more information or to arrange an interview with AUL, contact Gavin Oxley at press@aul.org or 202-987-3321.
Since 1971, Americans United for Life (AUL) has advanced the human right to life in culture, law, and policy by equipping advocates and lawmakers with the facts and strategies that change hearts and minds and protect human life. The first national pro-life organization in the country, AUL is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.
