Joplin's license was permanently revoked on September 13, 2011. (Read the order.)

The medical license of Feliciano Rios, of Chula Vista, California, was suspended for 60 days in an order issued by the Board that went into effect on September 20, 2011. (Read the order.)

Rios' discipline is the result of criminal felony convictions for grand theft, Medi-Cal fraud, and perjury. Rios was placed on probation after those convictions and restricted from owning firearms. After records showed that Rios failed to transfer ownership of his weapons, police searched his abortion clinic and found three handguns, two of which were semi-automatic, locked in a filing cabinet fully loaded with ammunition. Possession of the firearms constituted a violation of his criminal probation.

In addition to the suspension, Rios is ordered to take an ethics course and not engage in the solo practice of medicine. Another physician will be appointed to monitor Rios once his suspension is served.

"It's hard to believe that, after all his crimes, Rios would not merit harsher punishment," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. Operation Rescue worked for years to expose Rios. "There's no doubt that this man will re-offend. It's unfortunate that the Board did not take stronger measures to protect the public.

"But for now, one very dangerous abortionist is permanently out of the business while another won't be killing children for at least 60 days. That is great news for women and their pre-born babies. More than ever Boards are beginning to take action against offending abortionists. The days of governmental agencies protecting them at any cost are coming to an end in this nation. This is one more message to abortionists everywhere that they are not above the law."

Operation Rescue is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of abortionists who are breaking the law. For more about the Abortion Whistleblowers Program, please click here.

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.