LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- A woman who had an abortion at a Las Vegas clinic that is now temporarily closed is speaking out.
State health inspectors say Clinica de Mujeres had a number of sterilization problems and was issued a Cease and Desist order. It is the fourth such medical facility in the past two weeks to be found with non-sterile practices.
"Similar issues in all of the facilities, sanitation, sterilization and expired medications," said Paul Shubert, Nevada State Health Division.
Eyewitness News talked with one former patient who explained what it was like inside. The patient who wishes to remain anonymous went for an abortion five months ago. From the time she walked in the clinic, she had her doubts.
"I had to pay for it first. They didn't give me a receipt. They did an ultrasound which they didn't know how to do," she said. The woman also noted that the equipment appeared dirty.
The health division says Dr. Vickie Mazzorana owns the clinic and is licensed by the medical board. But this patient isn't so sure a female doctor performed her pregnancy termination.
"I was in and out of the procedure and I didn't see the girl doctor in the room. I saw a guy that I hadn't seen at all when I was checking in and he was performing the actual abortion," she said.
After the procedure, the patient says she was given two envelopes filled with four weeks worth of pills. The health division says the facility is also being investigated for dispensing medication without a license. They urge patients to ask questions before undergoing any procedure.
"Any reasonable operation would let you see where it is going to be done and allow you to ask questions," Shubert said.
The health division tells Eyewitness News that the clinic must now come up with a plan of correction before they can be allowed to perform these types of procedures again. These kinds of clinics do not need a surgical license to perform these procedures.
