The Abortion Issue
By James Donahue
After accepting a bureau job in Sandusky, Michigan, for the Times Herald, we began attending the Sandusky Baptist Church. Doris took a job in the lab at the local hospital. That was our positions when the U.S. Supreme Court handed its infamous Roe vs. Wade decision.
Our church had a Central Baptist affiliation and took a strong stand against the decision that struck down all state laws prohibiting abortions in the United States. Thus we fell in with other church members and the sentiment of much of the community that looked at such a ruling with shock and awe. I recall writing stories about political candidates and religious leaders of the area speaking out against the ruling.
It was not long after the ruling that the first abortion was conducted at Sandusky Community Hospital. It was supposed to have been a big secret, but a few of the nurses who knew about it decided to become whistle blowers. Doris called me from the hospital and told me about it. She said a number of nurses came to see her and wanted me to write a story. They wanted to have a meeting with me that evening to give me the story. We arranged to hold the meeting at our house.
When they came we had cars parked all up and down our block. We had a living room filled with women, many of them still in their uniforms. What had happened, they said, was that one of the area doctors had performed not one but I believe two abortions at that hospital within days after the court ruling. Not only this, but they said they believed at least one of these babies was removed from the mother in late term, and that they perceived it as a brutal murder. They said the baby was removed in parts, and that it was so well developed the nurses that witnessed the remains said they could see its toes and fingers.
It was a horrifying story. Because none of the nurses was willing to be named in the story, I was in a dilemma as to just how to write it. I talked it over with my editor and the decision was made to go with “anonymous sources.” I contacted the hospital administrator for a comment, and the president of the board of directors. They were both shocked and angered that I had learned of the procedure, and demanded that I not write this story. I even had the administrator show up at my office. I was involved in the church then and after hearing the stories was convinced that something very evil was occurring at that hospital. I remember getting firm with the administrator and that he left my office in anger. I perceived the doctors in Sandusky launching some kind of regional abortion clinic and took it upon myself to stop it before it went any farther.
I called several pastors in the area and got their comments. The Roman Catholic priest and I believe a Methodist minister were among the more vocal. I was saddened that our own pastor of the Baptist Church refused to get involved. I had expected more from him.
The story went front page and the shock rippled through the Thumb District. Because Doris was my wife, the hospital assumed that she was the source of my information and was “let-go” for revealing confidential medical information. That was a blow to our personal financial situation. She quickly landed another part-time position at Marlette Hospital. It involved a long drive to work but in the long run it was a better job because she no longer had to do X-rays. And as far as we knew, the doctors at Sandusky Hospital never performed another abortion.
By James Donahue
After accepting a bureau job in Sandusky, Michigan, for the Times Herald, we began attending the Sandusky Baptist Church. Doris took a job in the lab at the local hospital. That was our positions when the U.S. Supreme Court handed its infamous Roe vs. Wade decision.
Our church had a Central Baptist affiliation and took a strong stand against the decision that struck down all state laws prohibiting abortions in the United States. Thus we fell in with other church members and the sentiment of much of the community that looked at such a ruling with shock and awe. I recall writing stories about political candidates and religious leaders of the area speaking out against the ruling.
It was not long after the ruling that the first abortion was conducted at Sandusky Community Hospital. It was supposed to have been a big secret, but a few of the nurses who knew about it decided to become whistle blowers. Doris called me from the hospital and told me about it. She said a number of nurses came to see her and wanted me to write a story. They wanted to have a meeting with me that evening to give me the story. We arranged to hold the meeting at our house.
When they came we had cars parked all up and down our block. We had a living room filled with women, many of them still in their uniforms. What had happened, they said, was that one of the area doctors had performed not one but I believe two abortions at that hospital within days after the court ruling. Not only this, but they said they believed at least one of these babies was removed from the mother in late term, and that they perceived it as a brutal murder. They said the baby was removed in parts, and that it was so well developed the nurses that witnessed the remains said they could see its toes and fingers.
It was a horrifying story. Because none of the nurses was willing to be named in the story, I was in a dilemma as to just how to write it. I talked it over with my editor and the decision was made to go with “anonymous sources.” I contacted the hospital administrator for a comment, and the president of the board of directors. They were both shocked and angered that I had learned of the procedure, and demanded that I not write this story. I even had the administrator show up at my office. I was involved in the church then and after hearing the stories was convinced that something very evil was occurring at that hospital. I remember getting firm with the administrator and that he left my office in anger. I perceived the doctors in Sandusky launching some kind of regional abortion clinic and took it upon myself to stop it before it went any farther.
I called several pastors in the area and got their comments. The Roman Catholic priest and I believe a Methodist minister were among the more vocal. I was saddened that our own pastor of the Baptist Church refused to get involved. I had expected more from him.
The story went front page and the shock rippled through the Thumb District. Because Doris was my wife, the hospital assumed that she was the source of my information and was “let-go” for revealing confidential medical information. That was a blow to our personal financial situation. She quickly landed another part-time position at Marlette Hospital. It involved a long drive to work but in the long run it was a better job because she no longer had to do X-rays. And as far as we knew, the doctors at Sandusky Hospital never performed another abortion.