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Tag: Keisha Atkins

  • Accountability Matters!

    Accountability Matters!

    By Bud Shaver

    Albuquerque, New Mexico-Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Our family is humbled to serve the Lord in New Mexico as pro-life missionaries and to be the voice for the children the Lord loves so much. We couldn’t do this important life saving ministry without you! This month we have continued to light up the darkness with our prayer campaign outside the UNM abortion center, every day at least one person is present but we need more people to sign up for one hour. 

    We also called for accountability of our elected officials at the city level when two republicans voted to make sure that Planned Parenthood of New Mexico receives $250,000 of our tax dollars. If these republicans had voted against this funding it would have been blocked. 

    TAKE ACTION: Abortion Free New Mexico urges you to contact councilors Brook Bassan and Trudy Jones to express your disapproval of their actions and to urge them to resign immediately. 

    • Click here to contact them.

    This is a prime example why the pro-life pledge we are asking candidates to sign is so vital. So far we have 30 candidates from across the state who have pledged to defend life from conception to natural death. Thanks for standing with us and together we are building a culture that loves life.

    IN THE NEWS THIS MONTH:  

    “Tara Shaver with Abortion Free New Mexico spoke with American Family News about the quarter-million dollars given to the local abortion provider. According to Shaver, the city of Albuquerque is already facing many crisis situations financially, so she finds it ‘completely absurd’ to reward a non-essential business. The official minutes from the May 16 meeting indicate the city took a half-million dollars from ‘affordable housing’ and gave half of that to Planned Parenthood to free up more of the abortion company’s budget for abortions.”

    As Ward 29 Chairman, Bud would like to thank everyone who came to our first ward meeting at Lava Rock Brewing Company. We had an amazing turnout with about 60 people present. There is great potential to flip this district and take New Mexico back from the liberal Democrats.

    Abortion Free New Mexico wrapped up another successful month of prayer with our No Sidewalk Without the Savior Campaign. We have our amazing team of volunteers to thank for making sure that each day people were present and praying for an end to abortion at the University of New Mexico. One of our volunteers shared this testimony,

    “I need to tell you what happened yesterday when praying at the clinic with Tom. A young lady walked all the way up the hill, started with ‘I am a Christian’ and told us she has 3 kids and just found out she is pregnant. She is barely making it now and is concerned about another baby. Her name is Samantha. Does not want an abortion but… Did not say she is married. We were struck with her concern for the future. We panicked to some extent. It is easy to pray “shut down this clinic” but tough to help someone going thru a real challenge. We prayed with her and gave her one of the resource packets.”

    This story demonstrates the importance of being present at the places where women seeking abortions are.

    If our team had not been there, this woman wouldn’t have local resources to pursue and she most likely wouldn’t have reached out for prayer because of the shame and stigma that is inevitable for women considering an abortion. It is a blessing to know that when the body of Christ is present opportunities arise and we can be the light in this dark world.

    Here’s another sidewalk testimony confirming how Abortion Free New Mexico’s prayerful presence is making a difference:

    From a Tuesday Volunteer: “A gentleman pulled up to the stop sign and called out to us telling us that he was not going to abort his baby, that he was going to keep his baby. He then did the sign of the cross and seemed so full of joy.”

    Join us tomorrow for Faith To Action Friday as we collectively come together to put our faith into action outside the UNM abortion center.

    You’re Invited to Pray & to Stand Up For Life at the University of New Mexico’s free standing abortion facility.

    • Friday June 3, 2022
    • Time: 10-11am
    • Location: UNM Center for Reproductive Health (2301 Yale Blvd. SE. in Albuquerque.) Use street parking on Renard.

    This month, Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico joined Owen Shroyer on the Infowars War Room to discuss how Late (Third Trimester) Full-Term abortions are not a conspiracy theory but a tragic reality. New Mexico is the proof. She also pointed out that in light of Roe v Wade being overturned that  New Mexico will continue to be ground zero for all abortions and abortion tourism.

    “Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico has been fighting abortions in America for years, she is now attempting to end abortion in New Mexico. Tara Shaver joins Owen to discuss her pro-life activism in New Mexico and what she sees ahead as Roe v Wade will soon be overturned.” Infowars War Room

  • UPDATE: New Mexico Facility And UNM Settled Wrongful Abortion Death Suit For Total Of $1.26 Million

    UPDATE: New Mexico Facility And UNM Settled Wrongful Abortion Death Suit For Total Of $1.26 Million

    Operation Rescue assisted Abortion Free New Mexico with the initial investigation and exposure of this tragedy.  ​

    By Cheryl Sullenger, (Republished with the permission of Operation Rescue)
    ​
    Albuquerque, NM – Southwestern Women’s Options, a full-term abortion facility located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has settled a major medical malpractice/wrongful death suit for $900,000.  According to the Albuquerque Journal, the settlement agreement was reached with the abortion facility last fall.

    “Southwestern Women’s Option clinic, in settling its part of the lawsuit, sought a confidentiality provision to bar the parties from discussing the settlement. They are specifically not permitted to disparage the clinic or its doctors, according to the settlement agreement, which was filed as an exhibit in the lawsuit,” the newspaper reported.

    Last month, the University of New Mexico agreed to pay the family of Keisha Atkins $365,000 to settle their part of the lawsuit that alleged UNM negligently referred Atkins to Southwestern Women’s Options where Atkins received a fatal multi-day abortion.  That settlement resulted in a full dismissal of the wrongful death suit in April.

    That brings the total payout to Atkins’ mother, Tina Atkins, and her sister, Nichole, to over $1.26 million.
    ​
    Southwestern Women’s Options’ owner, Curtis Boyd, reached the settlement during mediation in relation to allegations that “its subsequent treatment of Atkins fell below the standard of care and was negligent,” according to the Albuquerque Journal.

    Atkins was 23 years old and six months pregnant when she sought an abortion at the UNM Center for Reproductive Health early 2017. That abortion facility determined that Atkins was too far along for a procedure there, so she was referred to Southwestern Women’s Options, which is one of the few abortion facilities in the U.S. that openly conducts abortions through all trimesters of pregnancy.

    Once at SWO, Atkins underwent a multi-day late-term abortion. Before the process could be completed, Atkins was taken to UNM Medical Center where she died on February 4, 2017.
    ​
    The Albuquerque Journal reported that Tina Atkins described during a deposition meeting her daughter in the hospital that fateful day when Keisha was still alive and talking.

    Keisha was combative, and ‘a little bit delirious,’ Atkins said. But she could still talk. “The first thing that came out of her mouth was, ‘Mom, I’m going to die.’”

    An autopsy was done at the University of New Mexico that listed Atkins’ cause of death as “Pulmonary Thromboembolism due to Pregnancy.”

    Tara Shaver of Abortion Free New Mexico, who was initially tipped to Atkins’ death, was among the first to receive a copy of the autopsy report. Suspicious that the cause of death blamed Atkins pregnancy instead of the abortion, Shaver asked Operation Rescue to review the autopsy results.

    Operation Rescue’s staff, which is experienced in analyzing autopsy reports, found that the listed cause of death was untrue, and suspected that UNM was attempting to cover up the liability of UNM and SWO in Atkins’ death.

    Operation Rescue discovered that the autopsy report itself noted that Atkins developed an infection during the multi-day abortion that turned septic. As a complication of the septicemia, she developed a clotting disorder. It was a blood clot found in her lung caused by the abortion process that eventually took her life – not her pregnancy.
    ​
    At the time, Curtis Boyd commented in the Albuquerque Journal attacking Operation Rescue’s discovery:

    For those who oppose women’s reproductive justice to exploit this sad event by putting forward lies about abortion and the patient’s care is sickening. We trust the citizens of New Mexico to be compassionate and understanding of the needs of women and to see through this inflammatory attack on women’s reproductive rights and on us.”

    In the end, the settlements vindicated Operation Rescue’s findings and proved that it was Boyd who was lying to cover up his clinic’s negligence in Atkins’ death.

    We are glad that the Keisha Atkins wrongful death case is now closed and that her family will receive a large settlement. I know that no amount of money will compensate them for the death of their loved one, but I pray it will bring closure to the family,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. 
    ​
    “These agreements confirm a fatal level of negligence that wrongly cost a woman her life. Southwestern Women’s Options and the UNM Center for Reproductive Choice should be closed by the state to protect the public from any continued negligence.  Given the leftist nature of the current state government, I know that seems unlikely, but it was also unlikely that anyone would ever discover the truth about Atkins’ death that UNM’s autopsy tried to cover up. Yet we did uncover that truth, which eventually led to this $1.26 million payout, so anything is possible,” Newman concluded.

    The case was handled by Abortion on Trial. More information about this case is available on their website.

    Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico issued the following statement:

    “Abortion Free New Mexico is thankful for the collaboration with Operation Rescue who assisted us with the initial investigation and exposure of this tragedy. Our hope is that the family of Keisha Atkins can find closure and peace and that her death will help serve to deter other women from choosing abortion. This $1.26 million dollar settlement should set a precedent that late-term abortions pose serious life threatening risks to women and that UNM should refrain from their participation in referring and providing abortion services. New Mexico tax dollars are funding these risky procedures through medicaid and now the tax payers are footing the bill for the abortion deaths of women. ​

    When will this insanity end?

    Abortion Free New Mexico continues to be on the front lines ministering to vulnerable women targeted by the New Mexico abortion cartel, and also works tirelessly researching, investigating, and ultimately exposing the tragic consequences of an unregulated up to the day of birth abortion industry that is totally out of control in our state.”

  • BREAKING: UNM Must Pay Settlement After Woman is Killed in Botched 6-Month Abortion

    BREAKING: UNM Must Pay Settlement After Woman is Killed in Botched 6-Month Abortion

    By Micaiah Bilger, (This article originally appeared on LifeNews.com)

    Albuquerque, New Mexico- Lawyers for the late Keisha Atkins, who died along with her unborn baby after a late-term abortion in New Mexico, achieved a victory this spring when the University of New Mexico agreed to pay a settlement in the case.

    ​The pro-life organization Abortion on Trial said the university paid Atkins’ estate $365,000 after the UNM hospital was accused of negligently referring her to a late-term abortion facility that led to her death.

    UNM should have never referred Keisha to Curtis Boyd’s outpatient abortion facility, Southwestern Women’s Options,” said Jamie Jeffries, executive director at Abortion On Trial. “It is unacceptable medical care to perform an induction abortion outside of a hospital. Practitioners everywhere should be aware that referring women to private abortion clinics can result in legal action and subsequent liability.”

    In 2017, Atkins, 23, died shortly after her unborn baby was aborted at Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque; she was six months pregnant. Her lawyers said she died of sepsis after the abortion facility gave her “inconsistent and dangerously addictive drugs for days” and delayed transporting her to a hospital.

    Abortionists Carmen Landau, Curtis Boyd and Shannon Carr also were sued for negligence in Atkins’ death.

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    Jeffries said Atkins’ elective, late-term abortion was paid for by New Mexico taxpayers through Medicaid, and the settlement also will be paid for by taxpayers because the University of New Mexico is a public institution.
    ​
    Attorney Mike Seibel with Abortion on Trial said they donated part of their attorneys’ fees from the settlement to help other mothers and babies in need.

    Of the attorneys’ fees generated from the UNM $365000 settlement, I donated a good amount to pregnancy centers, sidewalk advocates, pro-life candidates and pro-life causes,” Seibel told the Pinon Post. “The money man intended to use for evil God turned to good. It’s time to win this battle.”

    The case has prompted calls for state lawmakers to enact new safety regulations for abortion facilities. New Mexico has almost no regulations or restrictions on abortion. It does not require women to be informed of abortion risks or alternatives before an abortion, and it allows unborn babies to be aborted for any reason up to birth.

    “The New Mexico Legislature has chosen many times to ignore the safety of the mother during a late term abortion,” state Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Grant, said in a statement provided to LifeNews. “While I believe there are many alternatives to abortion, the simple truth is that a woman who opts to receive an abortion should receive the same information of the risks of the procedure that is afforded in every other medical environment.”

    Atkins’ mother, Tina, and sister, Nicole, filed the wrongful death lawsuit on her behalf.

    According to KOB News 4, Atkins went to the abortion facility Feb. 1, 2017, where her unborn baby was aborted. She was about six months pregnant.

    Two days later, according to the lawsuit, she went back to the abortion facility complaining of breathing trouble and a high fever. After 10 hours, the abortion facility called for an ambulance to take Atkins to the hospital, and she died there a short time later, according to the lawsuit.

    The lawsuit accused the University of New Mexico Hospital and Southwestern Women’s Options of medical malpractice, wrongful death and civil conspiracy in the lawsuit.

    The late-term abortion facility also allegedly violated the New Mexico Unfair Trade Practices Act by telling Atkins not to go to the emergency room but to contact the abortion facility if she experienced a medical emergency.

    Operation Rescue and Abortion Free New Mexico also suspected a cover-up. The groups obtained Atkins’ autopsy report along with a CAD printout of a 911 call from the abortion facility on the date of Atkins’ death. The groups said both documents raised serious questions about the mishandling of Atkins’ medical emergency, and aroused suspicions of an attempted cover-up involving the hospital, with which lead abortionist Curtis Boyd is connected.