Jun 21, 2008 9:01 am US/Pacific
Fake Doc Accused Of Providing Abortions In Calif.
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (AP) ―
The owner of a California medical clinic has been charged with posing as a doctor to perform abortions.
Prosecutors say some of the procedures allegedly performed by Bertha Bugarin (boo-gah-REEN') were unsuccessful and resulted in severe complications and hospitalization for the patients.
They say the 48-year-old woman, at one point, operated six clinics in Southern California that provided abortions. Authorities say she performed abortions on several women herself in February and March.
At least nine women have identified Bugarin as the person who performed medical procedures on them. The prosecutor says in one case, a woman who underwent an unsuccessful abortion later delivered her baby prematurely and the infant died.
Bugarin is being held on a half-million-dollar bond on 10 felony counts. She faces nine years in prison if convicted.
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