Cincinnati, OH — Attorneys for Martin Haskell’s Sharonville abortion facility have announced that they will not appeal a ruling issued last week by Judge Jerome Metz upholding the Ohio Department of Health’s closure order. Haskell must cease surgical abortions his Sharonville office by Friday, August 22, 2014.
“This is such a huge victory for all who respect life and the rule of law,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue, which worked with Greater Cincinnati Right to Life to expose Haskell’s abortion abuses. “Haskell had the attitude that he was above the law and deserved to operate under a different standard as everyone else. Today, the law has prevailed.”
Haskell operated for years under a variance issued by the ODH that allowed him to continue operating as long as he maintained an approved agreement with two physicians to supply hospital care for women injured during abortions done by Haskell in Sharonville. However, Haskell continually changed the agreement without notifying the ODH. The physicians he had agreements with were a troubled lot that case doubt on whether they could supply adequate hospital care for patients.
The ODH declined to renew Haskell’s variance in January and revoked his facility license. Haskell appealed the decision, but lost every step of the way.
Haskell has operated in the Cincinnati area for 32 years. Over the past 18 months, nearly half of Ohio’s abortion facilities have closed.
“When the authorities enforce the law, abortion clinics close,” said Newman. “This just shows that abortion facilities, including Haskell’s, operate at such a low standard that women are endangered at them every day. The state is fulfilling their duty to protect the public by shutting down abortion businesses that can’t comply with the law.”
Article by Cheryl Sullenger
