An executive at the St. Louis-based Planned Parenthood Great Rivers has sued the abortion provider, claiming it fired her after she alleged an unauthorized and illegal abortion was conducted at its Fairview Heights clinic in Illinois.
Former human resources Vice President Jacqueline C. Colyer’s complaint says an abortion was performed after hours on a Sunday in the clinic’s basement on a mother whose fetus was 28 weeks old. According to the complaint, Colyer reported the incident via an anonymous tip line to Planned Parenthood. She alleges that Planned Parenthood disciplined her two weeks after making the tip. Less than five months later, on the day Colyer returned to work after a temporary medical leave, she was fired.
“The conduct Colyer reported — an unauthorized abortion at approximately 28 weeks, after the point of viability and outside the facility’s operating hours — violated a clear mandate of public policy,” Colyer’s complaint alleges.
“An abortion at approximately 28 weeks, outside operating hours, with no indication it was necessary to protect the patient’s life or health, was contrary to” Illinois law, the complaint continues. Under Illinois law, abortions after viability are not allowed unless they are necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.
You can read more about the case here.