In its ruling, the Board stated, "Dr. Brigham has consistently and repetitively engaged in manipulative and deceptive behavior designed to circumvent the requirements of the board's termination of pregnancy regulation and to eviscerate the protections that those regulations seek to afford to New Jersey patients."

The Board took action to revoke Brigham's license after a botched abortion incident brought to light his scheme to begin late-term abortions in New Jersey and complete them at a secret abortion mill in Elkton, Maryland, where Brigham is unlicensed. Brigham used an 88-year old disabled physician, George Shepard, Jr., who holds a Maryland medical license, to cover for the fact that he was doing abortions in Maryland without a license, which is a felony in that state.

Brigham admitted to doing abortions in Maryland, but argued that he believed it was legal for him to do so as long as Shepard was in the office. Shepard was deceptively listed on Brigham's Elkton clinic records as the physician of record even though he suffered a stroke that disabled an arm, making it impossible for Shepard to participate or assist in the risky late-term surgical abortions.

The New Jersey Attorney General's office, which argued for suspension, told the Board that it found Brigham's claims that he did not think he was breaking the law by practicing in Maryland to be without credibility.

"Brigham has now admitted that he did in fact commit abortions in Maryland, where he is not licensed. Based on that, we renew our call for criminal charges in Maryland and add to it our call on the State of New Jersey to criminally charge Brigham as well," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.

"In addition to revocation, criminal charges are necessary because traditional discipline does not work on Brigham. The only thing that will stop his crime spree is to put him in jail where he belongs. In addition, his abortion mills need to be closed in the interest of public safety. As long as they remain open, women remain at risk from Brigham's dangerous and deceptive business practices."

Background

About Operation Rescue®
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006.  From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.