AG Sues To Close Detroit Abortion Clinic Over Ownership: 'It's Not Run By Doctors'
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The Michigan attorney general says a Detroit abortion clinic should be shut down because it's not run by a doctor.
Bill Schuette says he's filed a lawsuit against Summit Women's Center on McNichols Road just west of Greenfield Road.
In a statement, Schuette doesn't allege any problems with patients but says the clinic is violating state law because of its ownership.
"To protect the public, state law requires that medical and other professional services be provided through corporations owned by licensed professionals," he said.
The lawsuit says the owner listed in annual paperwork, David Lipton, is not a licensed physician.
A woman who answered the phone at the clinic declined to comment. A website says it offers abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy as well as other health services for women.
Background on Summit Women's Center (provided by the Attorney General's Office)
Following a complaint in 2014, the Attorney General investigated an allegation that Summit Women's Center was illegally providing medical services through Summit Women's Center of Detroit, Inc. (Summit Inc.), which is not a professional corporation and hence not authorized to provide medical services.
Summit Inc. responded, clarifying that medical services were provided through Summit P.C., a professional corporation incorporated in 2011 by licensed physician Alex Pickens, Jr., MD.
Satisfied that Summit appeared to be providing medical services lawfully through a professional corporation, the Attorney General closed its complaint and asked Summit to clarify the provision of services on its website.
Summit complied. But a year later, in May 2015, Summit P.C. filed new paperwork with the state "falsely certifying that Lipton was a licensed professional and otherwise ignoring state law governing professional corporations," according to the statement. "Ever since, Summit P.C. has been operating illegally, leading to the present complaint."
A civil lawsuit is an allegation and defendants are not liable until the court enters a judgment in the case.
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