By Dave Andrusko

The headline reads, "Pennsylvania physician cited for allegedly performing abortions in Elkton without Maryland medical license." This follows a long, long series of serious violations for abortionist Steven Chase Brigham whose medical license in New York was revoked in 1994 "after a review board found him guilty of three acts of gross negligence and 10 counts of negligence involving two late-pregnancy abortions," according to reporter Jacob Owens of the Newark Post.

In this instance, last week the Maryland State Board of Physicians issued a cease-and-desist order to Brigham who the board said it has "probable cause to believe" is not, and has never been licensed to practice medicine in Maryland. "The health of Maryland patients is being endangered by the Respondent's unlicensed practice of medicine in this State," the order read.

Without a license, Brigham "has performed surgical procedures in Elkton, Maryland, on a regular basis, performing two to three procedures on each visit during each of approximately two visits per week for at least several months prior to the date of this Order [August 25]." The Board added that Brigham "has been observed performing surgical procedures on approximately 50 occasions in Maryland at the Elkton location since January 2010."

Brigham owns a chain of abortion clinics named American Women's Services, according to the Maryland Board of Physicians. In its order the Board talks of how Brigham "initiated a procedure" [presumably an abortion] somewhere outside of Elkton on August 13 which "had to be completed on an urgent basis."

Brigham "then followed the patient in an automobile as the patient, under his instructions, traveled to Elkton for the completion of the procedure," according to the order. "In Elkton, the patient was admitted, as planned, to a clinic owned by

Brigham for the completion of the procedure. He directed the surgical procedure that took place at his clinic on that date."

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in July that the Pennsylvania Department of Health had ordered Brigham to shut down four of his clinics in that state for repeatedly use of unlicensed medical staff. In addition the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claimed he failed to file payroll taxes from 2002-06, according to the Inquirer. (www.nrlc.org/NewsToday/Brigham.html)