[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E473]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AN IMPORTANT HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE FOR BERGEN COUNTY WOMEN AND 
                                CHILDREN

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                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 6, 2007

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to 
this body's attention a serious health issue affecting women and unborn 
children in Bergen County, New Jersey.
  The Bergen Record reported last Wednesday, February 28 that the 
Metropolitan Medical Associates Clinic in Englewood, New Jersey had 
been closed down following a complaint filed by Newark Beth Israel 
Medical Center when it treated a woman for complications from an 
abortion performed at the Metropolitan Clinic. The Clinic, which 
performs more than 10,000 abortions a year, including about 1500 
partial birth abortions, was closed for posing ``immediate and serious 
risk of harm to patients.'' This very same clinic was barred from 
performing abortions in 1993 for its failure to protect the health and 
safety of its patients.
  As the Record reported, ``An order to halt medical services is 
extremely rare. This is only the second time in the last five years the 
[Department of Health and Senior Services] has closed one of the 
State's 619 ambulatory-care facilities for `deficient care.' '' 
Ironically, the Clinic is redirecting its patients to another local 
clinic owned by the same company that offers sub-par services at the 
Metropolitan Clinic.
  Perhaps, more ironic, however, is that the State has stepped in to 
protect the women seeking abortions from the physical hazards posed by 
the Clinic's substandard care. It has not sought to address the 
emotional damage that these women may suffer from the trauma of an 
abortion. And, it certainly has not sought to address the fatal tragedy 
that befalls the more than 10,000 children whose mothers come to the 
Clinic each year.

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