Clinic Director Accused of Abortion Sham
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/abortion_lawsuit
NEW ORLEANS - A purported anti-abortion activist was accused in a
lawsuit Monday of running a sham abortion clinic that dupes women into
waiting too long to have abortions.
The federal complaint, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights on
behalf of five plaintiffs, accuses William A. Graham of running the
Causeway Center for Women as a way to prevent abortions.
The lawsuit accuses Graham of pretending to refer women to abortion
providers at bargain prices, then telling them their appointments have
been postponed. Louisiana law allows abortions only during the first 24
weeks of pregnancy.
Graham said in an interview that he had not seen the complaint but
denied its allegations. "I would not string them along," he said.
The plaintiffs — four women and a physician — who have asked a court to
prohibit Graham from offering referrals and advertising under headings
such as "abortion provider."
The lawsuit accuses Graham of fraud, false advertising and trademark
infringement because the name "Causeway" also appears in the name of a
nearby abortion clinic.
One plaintiff, Priscilla Cabrera, contacted Graham in late December
seeking an abortion. She said he used an alias and offered to help
arrange an appointment with a doctor who performed $125 abortions.
Graham told her if an abortion were "performed too early, it could be
harmful to her health," according to the lawsuit.
Graham allegedly said he would schedule an appointment for Jan. 10 but
did not call Cabrera back for weeks, though she called repeatedly.
When the two finally spoke, he suggested a later abortion would be
better for her health and said he could arrange abortions up to the 30th
week of pregnancy, according to court documents.
Cabrera eventually received an abortion elsewhere in February.
Graham, who declined to give his opinion about abortion, said he did not
recall Cabrera but denied preventing women from ending pregnancies.
"I cannot make somebody stay pregnant. They can go anywhere they want,"
he said, insisting his business refers "hundreds of women" each year to
abortion providers.
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