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Hodari Accused of Forced Abortion

A Flint woman says her doctor
didn't respect her last minute change of heart.
 
 

When 20-year-old Caitlin Bruce opens her wallet, she sees a picture of a child she aborted.

"I can get teary eyed sometimes, but it is something I'd rather remember than forget," says Bruce.

Caitlin describes what happened at Flint’s Feminine Health Care Clinic on Saginaw Road as terror. She says Dr. Abraham A. Hodari forced on her an abortion she decided she did not want after seeing the ultrasound image of her unborn baby.

“He was inserting the speculum, and I told him I’m nervous. I just told him stop please,” she says. “I'm really nervous and I don't want to do this anymore.”

“When she said stop, it was too late,” Dr. Hodari told NBC25 on the phone while on a trip in Italy.

He admits he had an assistant then hold his patient down.

“I told her I would stop, but when I take my instrument there was blood and tissue on it from pregnancy, so I couldn't stop,” explained Hodari.

He says Bruce could have developed a life-threatening infection, or suffered severe bleeding if he hadn’t finished what he started.

"I am there because I want to help woman have safe abortions,” said Dr. Hodari. “Look at my records. I have done more abortions and longer than any doctor in Michigan."

But not all doctors agree with Dr. Hodari’s actions.

Dr. Mona Hardas, M.D., a Flint obstetrician and gynecologist says when a patient asks a doctor to stop treatment, a doctor has to respect that request.

“Even if someone has signed a consent form, if someone wants you to stop you have to stop,” says Dr. Hardas.

She says in such a situation she would pause and calm her patient with empathy, not force. She would then explain what options are available to the patient.

For example Dr. Hardas says Dr. Hodari could have offered Bruce the opportunity to be transported to the emergency room for an exam and a second opinion as to whether the fetus could be saved.

“I am shocked,” said Dr. Hardas. “I can’t believe this is still happening in this day and age.”

Caitlin Bruce says the experience changed her life. In the weeks that followed the abortion, she tried to kill herself.

Now she is trying to heal and get justice.

She and her attorney, Tom R. Pabst filed suit in Genesee County Circuit Court against Dr. Hodari, accusing him of the following counts:

 
  • Count I - Lack of informed consent/Medical Malpractice
  • Count II – Battery
  • Count III – Misrepresentation/Fraud
  • Count IV – Innocent Misrepresentation
  • Count V – Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
  • Count VI – Ethnic/Gender Intimidation
  • Count VII - Violating the Elliot Larson Civil Rights Act
Caitlin Bruce did file a police report on this incident. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton says the case remains under review. No criminal charges have been filed.
 
ABC Report:
Michigan Woman Sues, Claims Doctor Forced Abortion After She Said Stop
 

 
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