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Abortionist Sued After Nearly Killing Woman

Dr. Durante's Medical License Still not Revoked

BY BETTY WELLS

The trial of infamous California abortionist, Joseph Durante, M.D., is set for March 1, 2004 in Indio in the Riverside County Superior Court. Durante, age 75, is being sued by Ann Marie Santana, a young Latina mother. In 1998 Ann Marie Santana went to Durante's abortion business where she underwent an abortion by Dr. John Allen, a fly-in (from Sacramento) partner for Durante. After the abortion, Ann Marie experienced considerable pain and was told to return. Without proper examination, Durante did a D&C. She went home, continued to deteriorate, vomited bile, and contacted Durante who basically neglected her.

Finally, a relative saw that Santana was severely ill and took her to the hospital emergency room where she underwent life-saving surgery by Dr. Reddy of Victorville Community hospital. She had a perforated uterus and a perforated bowel which allowed fecal material to escape into her abdomen and lay a crust of feces over her organs, giving Santana a case of near-death peritonitis. She endured a four-hour surgery, multiple blood transfusions, and eighteen days of hospitalization, including eight days in the intensive care unit. Even as he injured Santana, Durante was on probation with the California Medical Board for injuries against other women and for falsifying his Medi-Cal provider privileges application.

The California Medical Board accused Durante of negligence against Ann Marie and disciplined him with 10 days of suspended license and an extension of his probation.

Durante has a long history with the Medical Board. Veteran medical writer, Rex Dalton, included Durante in a November 30, 1998 article in the Union-Tribune about dangerous doctors whose licenses are not revoked by the medical board. The story was titled, "Licensed to Kill?" In 1996 young mother, Sharon Hamptlon, bled to death after an abortion at Durante's business at the hands of another fly-in abortionist, Dr. Bruce Steir of San Francisco. In this case, the medical board revoked Steir's license and the Riverside County deputy district attorney Kennis Clark, put Steir in jail for manslaughter. The board took no action against Durante.

In 1978, the medical board charged Durante with negligence and incompetence in the care of female patients. He received 30 days of actual suspension and probation. In 1986 he was thrown off staff at Indio Community Hospital for injuring female patients. He lost staff privileges at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs because he failed to carry malpractice insurance. Since 1986, Durante has had no staff privileges at any hospital and cannot obtain malpractice insurance because of his history of negligence and incompetence.

Attorney Jack Schuler, of Schuler & Brown in Van Nuys, is representing Ann Marie Santana. Durante is representing himself, and previously told a reporter for the Desert Sun newspaper that, "depending on the outcome of the lawsuit" he may have to file for bankruptcy, which may result in Santana receiving no compensation for her injuries. Schuler says, "Dangerous doctors like Durante can continue to perpetrate harm against patients only because the state medical board has failed to protect the public. When all the facts are laid out in this trial, the public will be appalled that someone as incompetent and calloused as Durante is still in practice. We anticipate that there will be no money, but we pursue Durante in order to rid the community of a menace."

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