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Abortion clinic charged with improper record disposal |
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By Gina Damron • Free Press Staff Writer • August 21, 2008 |
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A 12-count warrant has been issued against a Lathrup Village abortion clinic for
improperly disposing of medical records, according to Southfield’s 46th District
Court. |
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The case against WomanCare, located on Southfield Road, stems from a March
incident in which patient records were discovered in a Dumpster behind the
facility, court and police officials said today. The clinic came under scrutiny
after an anti-abortion group reportedly found body parts of fetuses, other
medical waste and the records in the trash bins. |
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An arraignment date has not yet been set, a court clerk said today. Dr. A.
Alberto Hodari, who owns the clinic and who would have to appear in court, said
today that he was not aware of the charges. |
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The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, which issued the warrant, could not be
reached for comment today. A sergeant at the Lathrup Village Police Department
said he couldn’t comment on the case other than to say that the warrant issued
was related to the March incident. |
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“I never received anything about being charged,” Hodari said. “I don’t have
anything yet.” |
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In March, Sgt. Vincent Lynch said that up to 50 patients could be identified in
medical records, which were mostly created in February and included personal
information and the types of procedures performed.
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In addition to the medical records, the clinic was accused of improperly
disposing of medical waste by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
In March, the MDEQ found that the clinic violated the Medical Waste Regulatory
Act by disposing of medical waste, including blood-soaked gauze and surgical
drapes, in regular trash bags and then putting them in the trash bin. Medical
waste, according to state rules, is to be disposed of in biohazard bags. |
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The MDEQ decided not to fine the clinic after conducting a follow-up inspection.
The state found that the clinic had put procedures in place to ensure medical
waste was put into biohazard bags and that employees used proper disposal
practices. |
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