SAN DIEGO, California, June 28, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — An abortionist who ridiculed a pro-life counselor outside his clinic — holding a pair of scissors near his neck — no longer works for the hospital he was affiliated with.
Dr. Robert Santella, who performs abortions at Family Planning Associates, confronted the young pro-life man literally growling and hissing, saying “I never listen to Christ,” and “I do have a darkened heart,” and, while holding scissors close to the Christian's neck, admitting he “loves” tearing babies apart.
Noting a Sharp Grossmont Hospital badge on Santella's shirt during the incident, Allyson Smith contacted the hospital, informing them of Santella’s violent behavior and asking, “Why is this doctor allowed to be affiliated with Grossmont Hospital? He is nuts and should be fired. What will you do about him?”
The hospital responded to Smith in writing. “We appreciate your concerns,” and assured her that Santella “is no longer affiliated with any of our hospitals, he is not employed by our medical groups, and he does not practice or have admitting privileges at any of our facilities.”
The hospital added, “We are currently looking into other aspects of this matter, and we will provide updates as we have more information.”
Santella is no stranger to controversy. The California Medical Board filed disciplinary action against Santella last month for negligence and unprofessional conduct that “demonstrates an unfitness to practice medicine.”
According to the charges, Santella gave dangerous drugs to five women without a physical examination, did not record dispensing the drugs, and failed to monitor the patients' medical conditions.
Additionally, Santella's medical license was revoked in 2000 for not keeping adequate medical records. And in 1984, he was disciplined for doing a hysterectomy on a woman who had an abortion one month earlier. failing to provide care as her condition worsened, and leaving the hospital before she had stabilized; delaying hospital admission for a woman with preeclampsia for two days that resultedin the death of her baby, and admitting a woman to the hospital for pelvic inflammatory disease but not caring for her for 25 hours and misdiagnosing her condition.
Cheryl Sullenger of Operation Rescue, which posted the video of the incident at the abortion facility, told LifeSiteNews, “Santella's outrageous and threatening conduct toward the pro-lifer in the video is completely unacceptable and deserving of the hospital's actions to disassociate from him.”
LifeSiteNews contacted several staff members at Grossmont Hospital in San Diego and received a response from Bruce Hartman, director of marketing and communications for the hospital.
“We’re unable to provide any more information or details on Dr. Santella’s past affiliation with Sharp HealthCare,” Hartman said. “It is unclear why he was wearing a Sharp badge in the recently posted video, and we are in the process of asking him to cease from wearing the badge and to promptly return it.”
Sullenger concluded, “Couple Santella’s threatening conduct with his recent accusations filed by the medical board of illegal drug distribution and it is obvious he is unfit to practice.”