Abortionist Brigham Jailed in New York on Tax Charges

By Liz Townsend

Notorious abortionist Steven Chase Brigham has been in a New York state jail since January 18, serving a 120-day sentence for failing to file corporate tax returns in 1994 and 1995 for an abortion clinic he owned in Colonie, New York.

Brigham, who has been the subject of investigations for botched abortions and other violations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, and California, was convicted in February 1998 on the misdemeanor tax charges, according to the Albany Times Union. Along with the 120-day sentence, Brigham paid $8,188 in fines. Although his full sentence would extend until May 16, he could be released as early as April 6 for good behavior.

Brigham's New York state medical license was revoked in December 1994 after several complaints of injuries and incompetence, including a 1993 case in which a 20-year-old woman had to receive a hysterectomy as a result of a late-term abortion Brigham performed, the New York Times reported. The abortionist " failed to suture a laceration in the woman's cervix and delayed getting help for her in a hospital until she had lost a great deal of blood and was going into shock," according to the Times.

In addition to the tax charges, Brigham had also been convicted in 1998 of fraud for scheming to overbill insurance companies. However, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court overturned this felony conviction in December 1999.

Before his prison term began, Brigham continued to perform abortions in New Jersey, the Allentown Morning Call reported. He was free to do so because in 1996 a judge found insufficient evidence to revoke his license despite charges of gross incompetence, malpractice, and misconduct, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger. The abortion clinic is located just across the state line from Pennsylvania, in Phillipsburg.

The New Jersey clinic is affiliated with one in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where Brigham told the Morning Call he is an " adviser." Brigham voluntarily gave up his Pennsylvania medical license in 1992 as authorities began an investigation into a clinic he owned in Wyomissing.

Brigham told the Morning Call that since the only conviction to stand against Brigham is the misdemeanor for which he is currently in jail, he may attempt to regain his medical license in the state.

"Pennsylvania was going to try to take action against my license because of the felony conviction, but now they can't," he said, since the appeals court last December overturned his conviction on felony fraud.

However, the Morning Call quoted Pennsylvania Department of State spokesman Bob Bunty as saying that Brigham "signed an agreement in 1992 stating he would not apply for reinstatement."

Even pro-abortionists warn women about Brigham. "Before they go to any clinic, women should try to do as much research as possible on the facility," Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, told the Morning Call. "In doing so with Dr. Brigham, they will see that he has had issues in several states, so they should be wary. . . . He certainly has a track record that is not sterling."