By Monsignor Noel Burtensahw

The Midtown Hospital, officially called The Atlanta Hospital for Women, Inc., advertises itself as “Georgia’s Only Hospital Specializing In Abortion.” That being so, it must be licensed by the State of Georgia to perform this procedure.

The licensing of any hospital also means inspection by the state each year. “That’s correct,” said Terrell Teague, who is regional director of the Standards and Licensure Section of the Department of Human Resources. “Each year we send an inspector to all licensed hospitals. And one is sent to Midtown Hospital.”

If so, our question to Mr. Teague was, did that inspector report to the state that Midtown Hospital had 10 live births in 1980, three in 1981 and one in 1982? “I don’t know,” said Mr. Teague. “It was brought to my attention (that these deaths took place) only at the beginning of April of this year.”

He was asked what happened to the reports which were made by the state inspector which would reveal the live births and subsequent deaths in Midtown Hospital. “I can’t answer that,” said Mr. Teague. “However, this hospital, like all others, must have policies and procedures to operate by, if they are to remain open to the public in this State.”

Asked if Midtown Hospital has guidelines intact which are currently approved by the state, Mr. Teague answered, “Yes, they do, but we are not completely satisfied with them. We have therefore notified Midtown Hospital to submit new guidelines for approval by the State. The hospital has agreed to do so and these new guidelines are due in my office on May 1, 1983."

Mr. Teague went on to say that Midtown was asked for submission of new guidelines “after the recent allegations were made.”

“I told them to have them to me by May 1,” said the Regional Director.

Eight of the live births survived at Midtown for more than an hour according to the death certificates issued for them. Mr. Teague was therefore asked what the present guidelines dictate in the case of live births at Midtown. Mr. Teague hesitated and then said that “a pediatrician must be called in (when a live birth takes place) and he must make a decision on what to do.”

Can this hospital leave babies, most of whom are distinctly premature, to die? “I don’t know,” was the answer. Asked who would know, he suggested we call his superior Mr. Clyde Roy, Director, Standards and Licensure Section of the Department of Human Resources.

Asked the same questions about procedures when a live birth takes place at Midtown Hospital, Mr. Roy replied, “The doctors must maintain life and, if possible, transport the baby to the nearest hospital.”

Mr. Roy stated that his department was not completely satisfied with the present guidelines at the hospital and was happy that they are currently being updated.

The Director further stated that inspection of the hospital takes place once a year. When asked why the live births and deaths went unheeded by his department, Mr. Roy stated, “We get a lot of reports each year, you know, and that place (Midtown) does close to 500 procedures every month.”

We informed Mr. Roy that we would contact the administrator of Midtown Hospital for more information on the procedures used by them in the case of live births.

Mr. Thomas Allibone, Midtown’s administrator, was informed that the death certificate of one child recorded that the child lived for five hours and 55 minutes. Could he therefore give information as to what procedures took place for the child and why the baby was not transferred to the nearest hospital?

Mr. Allibone responded that he did not have the records on his desk but that normal procedures were followed and this would mean that the live birth would be “monitored by the staff and physicians.”

“Live births,” said the administrator “are not comfortable situations for anyone and I know they are more uncomfortable for you, Father.”

As regards transfer, Mr. Allibone said, “The physician makes the decision on transfer after he has considered the viability of the live birth. He follows his own judgment on this matter.”

Mr. Allibone further stated that availability of beds in other hospitals was also a consideration to be evaluated.

Asked about the new guidelines, Mr. Allibone stated that a staff meeting on this matter had been held on April 21 and a letter concerning guidelines had been drawn up for the Department of Human Resources. The letter would be forwarded as soon as possible.

Mr. Allibone was asked to comment on the estimation of Mr. Roy that 500 abortions are performed each month at Midtown Hospital. The administrator declined comment.