Written by Bud & Tara Shaver
Albuquerque, NM- September 19, 2011–On Wednesday September 14, Father Stephen Imbarrato, Director of Project Defending Life as well as Bud and Tara Shaver, also with Project Defending Life, met with Governor Susana Martinez to discuss the urgent abortion crisis in New Mexico.
Tara Shaver of Project Defending Life recently obtained 13 911 calls, ten of which, came from the notorious Late-Term abortion clinic Southwestern Women’s Options.These ten calls were placed over a 30 month time span and reveal a troubling pattern of life threatening abortion complications. “The reality is that on average every 10 weeks a woman is being rushed to the hospital as a result of serious injuries inflicted by local abortionists,” states Tara Shaver.
The other three 911 calls were placed from the University of New Mexico’s very own abortion clinic, the UNM Center for Reproductive Health. The University of New Mexico as well as UNM Hospital are publicly funded institutions receiving funds directly from New Mexico tax payers. Another troubling issue is that the University of New Mexico is also training resident students to do abortions at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health abortion facility.
The meeting with Governor Martinez addressed concerns raised by the 911 calls and also mixed messages that came from the New Mexico Medical Board. Father Stephen Imbarrato, Founder and Director of Project Defending Life issued the following statement after the meeting: “Our concern is for the safety of women in New Mexico. We were encouraged to hear that Governor Martinez shares these same concerns. In fact, we were thoroughly impressed that the Governor’s office not only knew about the 911 calls, but had already contacted the Executive Director of the Medical Board to insure the investigation was progressing. We now have confidence that the New Mexico Medical Board is conducting a proper investigation.”
Those present at the meeting are very thankful for the open line of communication with the Governor’s office. The pro-life community should feel confident that the Governor’s office will stay on top of these types of issues. Also present at the meeting were Senator Bill Sharer and Representative Dennis J. Roch.
