Dateline: 8/13/01
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So in June of 1990, the state of Kentucky finally did an investigation of Banchongmanie's practice, and verified appalling misbehavior. In July of 1990, Banchongmanie performed an abortion on "Deann." She filed suit afterward, saying that Banchongmanie had performed an incomplete abortion, and that on August 2, she required emergency care. She also sued for violation of laws against deceptive trade practices. (Jefferson County Circuit Court File No. 91CI04951)
But Banchongmanie's facility continued to operate.
Suit by "Arleen" alleged: abortion by Banchongmanie January 23, 1991 at Women's Health Services; lack of informed consent; Banchongmanie did not secure pathology report or inform plaintiff abortion was incomplete; "Plaintiff carried around in her body the parts of the rotted corpse of her dead baby's body for approximately two days;" cervix remained dilated; on January 25, patient went to ER, suffering bleeding, cramping, fever; examination revealed "foul discharge" and products of conception, infection; patient hospitalized; D&C and laparoscopy performed May 7; "It was noted during the procedure that the cervical canal was without resistance to the dilator, thereby, causing future problems with carrying a pregnancy successfully." (Jefferson Circuit Court Case No. 91CI07679)
In a 1991 deposition, Banchongmanie stated that he had read National Abortion Federation standards, and agreed that they "set forth accurately the standards of care for a good abortion clinic" and "ought to be followed," but that he "don't know word by word did I follow them or not." Banchongmanie called his care "good practice...the least complication even nationwide. Why do I have to out of my care, when my care is given with the best result."
In a 1992 affidavit, Banchongmanie stated that his facility "adheres to all of the Standards for Abortion Care as outlined in the complete manual for National Federation Guidelines."
In a 1994 deposition, Banchongmanie stated that he had read NAF standards when his clinic was a NAF member, "long time ago," in the 1970s. He said that he did not read and adhere to NAF standards in 1991, 1992, or 1993. "I don't adhere to this standard because I don't read it...I use my own standard." He also said, "my clinic has been serving the people of Kentucky for long time and we make change, make adaptation and we think our standard is very high and we have great expectations also, we don't have to go after this standard to follow."
So decades of inspections, slovenly practices, and lawsuits did not cramp Ronachai Banchongmanie's style.
In our next Feature, we'll see what happened when the American Civil Liberties Union got involved on behalf of Kentucky's abortion patients.
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