Jessica Duran Lawsuit Against Late-Term Abortionist Goes Forward

BREAKING: Jessica Duran Lawsuit Against Late-Term Abortionist Goes Forward

Judge Says UNM Not Authorized to Use Aborted Baby Parts for Research 

Last week, Albuquerque District Judge Clay Campbell denied a motion by late-term abortionist Curtis Boyd and his business, Southwestern Women's Options (SWO), to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Jessica Duran. Duran claims SWO deceived her about its relationship with UNM. Judge Campbell ordered that all seven causes of action in Duran's lawsuit, including the unauthorized harvesting of her infant's body parts for research at the University of New Mexico (UNM), should go to trial and be decided by a jury.   
 
"This is a monumental finding by the court," said Elisa Martinez, executive director of the New Mexico Alliance for Life.  "It shows the University of New Mexico was not authorized to do any research using aborted infant bodies from Curtis Boyd's abortion business, and thousands of women were deceived who now deserve justice."  The story is covered today by the Albuquerque Journal and other outlets (read more below).

2016: Duran announced her lawsuit at NMAFL press conference

Judge Confirms: UNM Unauthorized to Do Research Using Baby Bodies Harvested at SWO 

The transcript of the judge's ruling obtained by NMAFL, points out deficiencies within the abortion consent form, which contains language about donating fetal tissue for research: "the only people being authorized, on its face, to do the research, is the clinic and the doctor.  It doesn't authorize UNMH to do the research."  Judge Campbell also stated, "failing to disclose the collaboration with the University of New Mexico.  That fact should have been disclosed, wasn't disclosed."  There it is. This fact has been pointed out by New Mexico Alliance for Life since we uncovered UNM harvesting infant body parts from SWO in 2015. 
 
The Judge further noted the conflict of interest between UNM and Boyd, "I understand he [Curtis Boyd] was wearing two hats. The second hat was not disclosed, and it's fairly clear from the allegations, taking them as true, that the research was being performed wearing the hat of him as an adjunct professor of UNMH."
 
"This ruling confirms the findings of the Select Panel on Infant Lives who delivered two criminal referrals to Attorney General Hector Balderas last year, detailing multiple violations of federal and state law in the harvesting of infant body parts between UNM and Southwestern Women's Options abortion business," said Martinez.   Read more from the Albuquerque Journal and  LifeNews. 

Important Note: What You Can Do

Please share! We encourage women who had an abortion at Southwestern Women's Options in Albuquerque, understand their rights may have been violated.  We have launched a new website where women can go to learn more and request a free legal consultation, as well as find resources for healing.  Many women are conflicted and pressured, even up to the moment of their abortion. Having their lawful rights to information about research and the humanity of their baby could easily have changed their decision, as in the case of Jessica.  There is hope and healing from abortion and we encourage women to come forward, so they can learn about their legal rights and find healing from the pain of abortion. 

Thank you for sharing this important information with others! 


Elisa Martinez 
Executive Director and Founder

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