American Press

The Louisiana Department of Justice recently appealed to a federal court to intervene and permit reporting to appropriate authorities, concerning an alleged attempt by June Medical Services (d/b/a Hope Medical Group) to hide evidence of alleged criminal and professional misconduct.

All subjects of a criminal investigation should be cooperative and transparent when under investigation by lawful authorities.

The potential criminal conduct was discovered during the LADOJ’s work defending State laws regulating abortion providers. A companion case regarding whether Hope Medical Group can adequately represent its patients is now pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

“I am deeply concerned about the basic health and safety of Louisiana women. And Hope’s continued efforts to hide this information from the Supreme Court and to block reporting to proper authorities casts serious doubt on Hope and its abortion providers’ claims that it represents Louisiana women,” said Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill. “As DOJ officers, if we can learn of potentially criminal activity during litigation, we have a legal obligation to report it to criminal investigators and licensing authorities.”

Murrill also noted they have a basic legal duty to protect the public from dangerous behavior when they learn of it.

“Shockingly, Hope Medical Group is refusing to unseal this evidence and permit us to carry out our legal duties,” Murrill said.

Normally, the LADOJ would make a criminal referral of such alleged criminal conduct, but since the presiding federal judge has sealed judge has sealed a large number of important documents and information regarding the case. The LDOJ is asking the appeals court to vacate that order.

The court litigation is captioned June Medical Services, LLC v. Gee, No. 16-444, and is one of three challenges filed by Hope Medical Group to abortion-related health and safety laws.

The companion case in the Supreme Court is Gee v. June Medical Services, LLC, No. 10-1460, in which Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill is defending State Law (RS 40: 1061.10) that requires an abortion clinic’s medical staff to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital consistent with laws involving doctor licensing and ambulatory surgery center licensing requirements.

The people of Louisiana should be assured that all medical facilities are operating lawfully, and certainly transparency is needed in all such investigations.