MADRID – The Madrid regional government has taken the precautionary measure of barring the clinic CB Medical Gimenedex from carrying out abortions due to the "serious risk" to the health of its patients. On Tuesday, the Madrid government filed proceedings against the clinic for allegedly falsifying documents and lacking the proper qualifications, as well as being guilty of irregularities in its execution of abortions. The charges have been brought after a random inspection carried out on several clinics on 5 December.

According to the report by the inspectors, the gynaecologist signing off on the abortions performed at the centre did not correspond to the actual person carrying them out. The inspectors have also alleged that the psychiatrist at the centre is not fully qualified, and has only a Masters qualification in that area.

The chain to which the clinic belongs also ran into trouble in November with its Barcelona branch, after five employees were arrested accused of carrying out illegal abortions. The regional government’s health department has, however, ruled out any connection between the two cases.

An employee of the Madrid clinic was threatened on Tuesday by pro-life campaigners. A month ago, she was also assaulted in the street by two other masked youths, leaving her with bruises on her face and contusions on her ribs.

[Copyright EL PAÍS, SL. 2007]

Subject: Spanish news