Planned Parenthood abortionist gets 'slap on the wrist' for negligence

The state of Delaware this week issued a reprimand and a $1,500 fine for a Planned Parenthood abortionist whom the state attorney’s office last year called “a clear and immediate danger to the public.”

Timothy Liveright, who worked at a Planned Parenthood center in Wilmington, Del., reached an agreement with state officials in November to avoid a hearing before the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline. The agreement details became public this week when the board voted to accept the deal.

Last year, three former Planned Parenthood employees blew the whistle on what they said were “meat-market style, assembly-line” abortion mills in Wilmington and Dover. The women reported unsanitary conditions and gross misconduct on the part of numerous employees, including Liveright, who said the charges were “scandalous” and denied wrongdoing.

Jayne Mitchell-Werbrich, one of the nurses who testified before state lawmakers last May, told The News Journal of Delaware this week’s punishment is a “slap on the wrist.”

“A $1,500 fine? That’s a couple abortions,” she said. “That’s a joke.”

Another former Planned Parenthood nurse, Joyce Vasikonis, who attended this week’s hearing, told The News Journal she was disappointed in the decision and said the result may discourage other nurses from coming forward to report abuses.

“I have lost much more than $1,500,” she said. “I’m not working as a nurse. I have applied for positions and not been hired.”

Meanwhile, Liveright continues to hold medical licenses in other states, including—ironically—neighboring Pennsylvania, where abortionist Kermit Gosnell is serving several life sentences in connection to his unsafe Philadelphia abortion center.

In its official complaint, the Office of Attorney General Beau Biden (son of Vice President Joe Biden) accused Liveright of negligence in the cases of five abortion patients who were transferred to the hospital early in 2013. The complaint said Liveright over-sedated patients, improperly administered oxygen, and used unnecessary suction procedures, among other things.

Although Biden’s office said the consent agreement reflects the findings of its official complaint, Liveright only had to admit that he failed to document results of procedures on the charts of three patients.

Mitchell-Werbrich and Vasikonis said Liveright failed to wear gloves during procedures, brought patients into unclean rooms, harassed staff, and rushed nurses to complete procedures quickly rather than safely.

“This weak slap on the wallet is an outrage in the face of his vile behavior—which included sexual harassment—and the horrid conditions to which he subjected vulnerable women,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.

Mitchell-Webrich and Vasikonis said Liveright was only one of many problems at the Planned Parenthood centers in Wilmington and Dover, both of which they said paid abortionists on a per-procedure basis, used outdated equipment and supplies (such as sterile needles expired since 2005), and didn’t inform patients of sexually transmitted disease test results. Mitchell-Werbrich said due to Planned Parenthood’s failure to consistently administer one medication, “it is likely that many women in Delaware may have to deal with future babies who have severe anemia, jaundice, brain damage, heart failure or even death.”

Mitchell-Werbrich, who is pro-abortion, told me she believes the Planned Parenthood operations in Delaware are beyond saving and should be shut down completely.

“Women are suffering nationwide while abortion businesses completely disregard their health and wellbeing,” Dannenfelser said. “This is sadly another example of why meaningful health and safety standards for abortion facilities and their employees are sorely needed.”

State lawmakers in Delaware unanimously passed tougher abortion standards last summer, including no longer allowing Planned Parenthood to self-regulate its clinics.