Pro-Life Action League's Dedicated Efforts Help Shut Down Albany Medical-Surgical Center

Contact: Tom Ciesielka, 312-422-1333, tc@tcpr.net

CHICAGO, Oct. 28, 2015 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Albany Medical-Surgical Center Family Planning Associates abortion clinic, 5086 N. Elston Avenue in Chicago, closed its doors on October 17, in the wake of safety inspections conducted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The shutdown follows 27 years of community objection to the center, led by the Pro-Life Action League, and the group's pressure on state officials to hold the clinic accountable for safety violations.

Eric Scheidler, Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League, stated, "This is a victory for all who value human life. This abortion provider operated for years without any safety inspections, and multiple women have died following abortions performed there. Now that its doors have closed, this neighborhood is safer for women and their unborn children." From the time that the clinic opened in 1988, the Pro-Life Action League has organized sidewalk counseling, conducted protests and coordinated prayer vigils outside of the Albany neighborhood abortion provider.

Albany Medical-Surgical Center was sued by the family of 13 year-old Deanna Bell, who died during an abortion there in September 1992. The same Elston Avenue Family Planning Associates abortion clinic was cited in the abortion deaths of 22 year-old Maria Rodriguez in 2000, Maria Leho—a mother of three—in 1999 and Nakia Jorden in 1998.

The Pro-Life Action League has documented multiple malpractice lawsuits against the company and its staff, and in 2014 the Illinois Department of Public Health uncovered twelve ambulance transfers, none of which were reported by the abortion provider, as required by law.

It was at the prompting of the Pro-Life Action League, that the Illinois Department of Public Health conducted its first safety inspection of the northwest side clinic in August 2013. The agency discovered multiple violations related to the safety of patients. Albany repeatedly failed to resolve the problems, resulting in a revocation of its license as an ambulatory surgical treatment center in March 2015, following which the clinic paid a reduced fine of $32,000.

Ann Scheidler, Pro-Life Action League Vice President and coordinator of the organization's sidewalk counseling operations, reported that a sign on the door refers potential clients to another Family Planning Associates clinic on Washington Boulevard in downtown Chicago. The company website advertises abortions up to 23.3 weeks gestation.

"While we celebrate the closing of an abortion clinic," noted Ann Scheidler, "we are concerned that the downtown abortion facility falls in a category of medical facilities that are unlicensed and unregulated. The health and safety of women who seek services from Family Planning Associates are at risk. This should be of great concern to the Illinois Department of Public Health."

Read additional details about the reported health and safety violations at Albany Medical-Surgical Center Family Planning Associates abortion clinic here:

• Is a Notorious Chicago Abortion Clinic Quietly Closing?
   
• Notorious Chicago abortion clinic loses license, fined $50,000
   
• A summary of Wrongful Death and Malpractice Lawsuits Against Family Planning Associates – Albany Medical-Surgical Center
   
• The Illinois Department of Public Health order revoking the clinic license
   
• The Illinois Department of Public Health August 2013 safety inspection

About the Pro-Life Action League
The Pro-Life Action League was founded by Joe Scheidler in 1980 with the aim of saving babies from abortion through direct action. Not content to await a political or judicial solution to abortion, the League seeks to stop the killing of unborn children right now through all available peaceful means, including public protest, sidewalk counseling, education, youth outreach, and national leadership. Visit www.prolifeaction.org to learn more.