Wisconsin Attorney General’s office concurs UW may be violating state law by training abortionists

In a May 25 letter to State Auditor Janice Mueller, Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General Kevin Potter wrote that the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority [UWHCA] may be violating state law by paying resident physicians while they are being trained to do abortions at Planned Parenthood in Madison. On April 16, the Alliance Defense Fund, on behalf of Pro-Life Wisconsin, filed a request with the Attorney General’s office for an opinion on the matter.

“We are encouraged the Attorney General sees this as a legitimate inquiry and shares our concern that a violation of state law could be occurring,” said Peggy Hamill, state director. “We look forward to a financial and program audit of the UWHCA.”

To view Assistant Attorney General’s letter to State Auditor Janice Mueller, click here. To view Pro-Life Wisconsin’s original request for an opinion to the Attorney General, click here.

“Our University of Wisconsin state agencies should not be a training ground for abortionists,” said Virginia Zignego, communications director of Pro-Life Wisconsin and a UW-Madison graduate. “UWHCA is likely breaking the law by paying medical residents to perform abortions. Residents need to be instructed how to save, preserve and respect life, not how to kill preborn children.”

Statute 20.927(1m) of Wisconsin law states, “No funds of this state or of any… agency of this state… shall be authorized for or paid to a physician or surgeon or a hospital, clinic or other medical facility for the performance of an abortion.” Click here to view statute 20.927. Its companion statute, 20.9275, explicitly defines “state agency” as “including… an authority created in ch. 231 or 233.” UWHCA is created in ch. 233. Wis. Statute 233.01- 233.42.

Despite this clear state law, since 2007 over $58,878 of funds of an “agency of this state” (UWHCA) have been “paid to a physician” (medical residents) “for the performance of an abortion” (during PPWI training) in direct violation of Wis. Stat. 20.927(1m).

Medical residents in the UW School of Medicine Ob/Gyn Department have two four-week rotations at Planned Parenthood, where they view and participate in abortions. To view the rotation schedule, click here. To view the signed contract between UW and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, click here.

 ProLife Wisconsin