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Portland, Oregon, November 8, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Oregon State Board of Nursing (OSBN) has issued an order banning abortion nurse Evett Gradwohl from “practicing as a Registered Nurse in any capacity or functioning as a caregiver in any setting” until further order from the Board.

The order comes in response to a formal complaint filed by the pro-life group Operation Rescue against Gradwohl with the Board of Nursing after a lawsuit surfaced that alleged misconduct during her employment at the Lovejoy Surgicenter in Portland, Oregon. Gradwohl is no longer employed at the abortion facility.

The suit, filed by a former clinic worker, alleged that Gradwohl sexually molested abortion clients while they were under anesthesia and drew the figure of a bird on one sleeping woman. Gradwohl was also accused of exposing herself to other employees and engaging in other harassing behavior. In addition, she allegedly told other employees to lie to state inspectors about the fact than an unlicensed and unqualified worker was overseeing abortion surgeries.

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The woman who filed the suit also says that Gradwohl pressured her to engage in an extra-marital affair with one of Gradwohl’s sex partners. When the woman refused to go along, she says Gradwohl began to mistreat her and in one instance threw a hanger at her.

“We asked the Board to act to protect women from further abuse by Gradwohl at Lovejoy Surgicenter and are very happy that they took speedy action to do just that. Sexual abuse and rape occur at abortion clinics on an all-too-frequent basis. It is the industry’s dirty little secret,” said Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor for Operation Rescue.

“We hope that the District Attorney will now take a hard look at this case and criminally charge Gradwohl for sex crimes. Her prosecution would serve as a means to warn women of the dangers they face when they walk into abortion clinics around the nation.”

Read the OSBN Order