Those pesky Abington Perinatal Associates at St Mary Medical Center

Your Excellency, Dr. Haas, and Mr. Bozza,

Each of us would certainly agree that the Church's teaching on direct abortion is clear and unambiguous.

As you should know, Dr. Frank Craparo of Abington Perinatal Associates has been reported to be involved with fetal "reduction" – a euphemism for abortion (See http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/selective-reduction-termination-due-health-issues/692269-fyi-something-my-dr-said-others-might-find-interesting.html).  Previously, Craparo's name could actually be found on the physician directories of both St Mary Medical Center and the Mercy Health System!

Four years ago, one of Craparo's Abington Perinatal Associates, Dr. Stephen Smith, recommended an abortion to a young mom and patient at St. Mary Medical Center.  After that became public, an ethics investigation reportedly ensued, and Smith's name disappeared from St. Mary's directory (cf, Pope vs. Doctors: How New Vatican Orthodoxy Undermines Medical Ethics and Imperils Your Health, Huffington Post, 2/10/10).  While I can find absolutely no indication that Abington Perinatal Associates has ceased doing "reductions," Smith's name has returned to the directory of St Mary Medical Center!  Joining him are fellow Abington Perinatal Associates Richard Latta, MD and Marc Rosenn, MD.

St. Mary Medical Center does offer a disclaimer: "....Health Care practitioners at St. Mary Medical Center abide by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services while providing care at any of the St. Mary Medical Center campuses.  Many of these practitioners also provide services outside of St. Mary Medical Center where there is no institutional obligation to practice under the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services....." Common sense should tell us that allowing Abington Perinatal Associates at a Catholic hospital is akin to the proverbial fox in the hen house.  St Mary's disclaimer insults moral sensibilities and intelligence.

Just two years ago, there was fear in some circles that a proposed Abington-Holy Redeemer merger would result in the cessation of some immoral services, including "reduction" (cf, Abington Memorial Hospital and Holy Redeemer: Putting Women’s Health at Risk by Imposing Religious Doctrine on Patients, Women's Law Project, 7/11/12).  They must be having a good laugh at how welcomed Abington Perinatal Associates are by St. Mary Medical Center.

Sincerely,