Planned Parenthood abortionist avoids hearing on alleged negligence

State officials in Delaware have reached a consent agreement with a Planned Parenthood abortionist who it declared a “clear and immediate danger to the public” last May.

Timothy Liveright, who performed abortions at a Planned Parenthood facility in Wilmington, Del., had been scheduled to appear before state officials on Friday, but the hearing was canceled due to the consent agreement. The Associated Press reported the office of Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden (son of Vice President Joe Biden) drafted the agreement, but it would not release details until the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline accepts the deal at its January meeting.

The state filed a complaint in May against Liveright after former Planned Parenthood employees described to state lawmakers two facilities that were “an absolute nightmare.” According to the nurses, the Planned Parenthood locations conducted abortions every eight to 10 minutes, and Liveright, who they said was paid on a per-procedure basis, was more concerned about speed than safety.

The conditions at the Delaware abortion centers prompted state lawmakers to quietly—but unanimously—pass tighter abortion standards, including no longer allowing Planned Parenthood to self-regulate in the state.

The allegations also sparked a billboard campaign urging Planned Parenthood employees to think twice about working at what the former employees described as “meat-market style assembly-line” mills. Joyce Vasikonis and Jayne Mitchell-Werbrich, who both described themselves as pro-abortion, told lawmakers they tried to help the centers improve safety but left after making no progress.

Liveright, who had at least five patients sent to the emergency room after botched abortions early this year, has denied wrongdoing. He surrendered his Delaware medical license but is still licensed in other states.