Medical license of 'traveling abortionist' revoked

Pro-lifers rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court in 2014 (Photo: American Life League)

The oft-suspended medical license of abortionist James Pendergraft IV now has been revoked by the Florida Board of Medicine following a complaint that alleged he was operating a drug-distribution service out of the trunk of his vehicle.

Operation Rescue, a leading organization in the battle to uncover the misbehavior of abortionists, described Pendergraft as a "notorious late-term abortionist."

The pro-life organization, which once bought a building that had been used as an abortion business, preventing it from reopening, filed the complaint that led to the disciplinary action.

Cheryl Sullenger, senior vice president of the group, notified the board that Pendergraft "had been arrested for operating an illegal home abortion and drug distribution business out of the back of a van in South Carolina."

He didn't have a medical license in the state at the time.

Pendergraft was arrested Oct. 5, 2015, by deputies in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

During the course of a routine traffic stop, the OR report said, deputies found illegal drugs in his vehicle, including Fentanyl, LSD and marijuana.

Also found were bloody abortion instruments with tissue still attached.

He was convicted of 10 offenses and placed on probation, OR said.

"At the time, Pendergraft was serving his fifth license suspension in Florida where he operated a chain of abortion facilities. Some of those clinics have permanently closed. Ownership his other clinics have been transferred to his former wife, while yet others have been converted into medicinal marijuana clinics. Despite the transfer of business ownership on paper, pro-life activists tell Operation Rescue that Pendergraft is still seen regularly entering his so-called 'former' abortion facilities during business hours and holds an interest in the medicinal marijuana businesses," the organization said.

"This license revocation was years in the making and was the result of the work and prayers of countless pro-life activists on the ground outside Pendergraft's abortion facilities and in our office," said Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue. "This is a victory for all of us, especially ... women and babies who will no long be placed at risk by James Pendergraft’s dangerous practices."

Sheriff Chuck Wright explained: "We got a guy and a girl early in the week that was a traveling abortionist. He traveled around the state of South Carolina without a medical license, with drugs and with medical tools, performing in-home abortions. So basically, we got an illegal baby killer."

Liberty Counsel, which was involved in a case regarding Pendergraft's business in Orlando, said Pendergraft's abortion facilities "have a notorious history."

"For example, on April 2, 2005, 911 emergency received a frantic call from a woman claiming her friend had given birth to a live baby at Pendergraft's EPOC clinic in Orlando. When the mother alerted medical staff that her 22-week-old baby was born alive, the staff refused to help her."

Liberty Counsel said the young mother "held the child and the amniotic sac in her hands as she called a friend at a nearby hotel who had traveled with her to Orlando from out of state."

"An ambulance was dispatched, but the clinic workers assured the EMTs that it was a hysterical woman and that they had everything under control. The EMTs then left without entering the clinic.

"Photos showed a perfectly formed baby boy who died from premature birth, confirming part of the mother's story," Liberty Counsel, which represented Baby Rowan's mother, said.

WND reported in 2016 Pendergraft was featured in a study that collected evidence about abortions and health and safety complaints.

The report, "Unsafe: How the Public Health Crisis in America's Abortion Clinics Endangers Women," was released at the time by Americans United for Life.

Among other things, it cited the most "notorious" abortionists, including Pendergraft.

The report noted even several medical license suspensions was not sufficient to stop his "disregard for the law and affinity for money-making schemes."