Los Angeles, Calif., Jan 31, 2008 / 02:00 am
The owner of a California abortion clinic chain faces trial on charges of practicing medicine without a license, Operation Rescue reported on Tuesday.
In addition, the accused woman’s clinics are now directed by a doctor accused of repeated negligence, including causing the death of a child during birth.
Bertha Bugarin, 47, owner of the Clinica Para La Mujer de Hoy abortion chain, was arrested last year on August 1 after five clinics were raided by the Health Authority Law Enforcement Task Force of the Los Angeles Police Department. She was charged with five felony counts of practicing medicine without certification and two misdemeanor accounts of dispensing medicine without a license. Her sister, Raquel Bugarin, was also arrested and charged with five counts of “aiding or abetting the practice of medicine without certification,” according to a September 7 press release from the Los Angeles Police Department.
“Bertha Bugarin allegedly managed medical clinics in Panorama City, Baldwin Park, Los Angeles and Huntington Park,” said the press release. “When physicians were not in the office, she allegedly performed medical procedures on five patients. In some incidents, she was allegedly assisted by her sister, Raquel Bugarin.” According to the press release, the incidents allegedly occurred in February and March 2007.