Abortion Malpractice Lawsuit Filed Against Planned Parenthood

A malpractice lawsuit has been filed against a doctor and a Planned Parenthood clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, alleging that medical mistakes were made during an abortion that resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. 

The complaint was filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court last month by Roberta Clark, who alleged that Dr. Aqua Don E. Umoren failed to conduct a proper abortion procedure on her when she was eight weeks pregnant.

Despite Dr. Umoren’s claim that the abortion was completed, Clark indicates that the fetus was still there and grew in her fallopian tube for another month before being properly aborted.

Clark alleges that medical malpractice during the abortion in September 2010 resulted in an ectopic pregnancy, which almost killed her. The complaint alleges that the doctors and clinic were negligent, failed to diagnose ectopic pregnancy and failed to employ properly trained personnel. She is seeking damages for injuries, pain and suffering, psychological damage and emotional distress.

The lawsuit blames the failed abortion procedure, in part, on an ultrasound technician’s failure to detect the ectopic pregnancy. The lawsuit raises questions how the technician could have claimed to have detected an 8-week, 4-day old fetus in her uterus when there was no fetus there. Instead it was in her fallopian tube.

The error and ectopic pregnancy were discovered at a local hospital when Clark was admitted due to nausea, vomiting and pain. She suffered a ruptured fallopian tube and had to have her left tube removed.