PRESS RELEASE: NMAFL Calls On UNM Regents to Take Disciplinary Action Against Dr. Eve Espey

The New Mexico Alliance for Life Calls on UNM Regents to take disciplinary action against UNM OB-GYN Department Chair Eve Espey for entering into invalid contract with late-term abortionist for student training and violating UNM policies  

Invalid contract and multiple policy violations of Dr. Espey's contract with abortionist Dr. Boyd put women, taxpayers and trainees at risk; UNM's recent disbanding of training  program after NMAFL's investigation is a tacit acknowledgement of Espey's wrongdoing 

Albuquerque - New Mexico Alliance for Life is calling on the University of New Mexico Board of Regents to have Dr. Paul Roth, chancellor of the Health Sciences Center (HSC) and Dean of the UNM School of Medicine, take disciplinary action against Dr. Eve Espey, OB-GYN chair of the School of Medicine for entering into contract without the authority to do so, along with multiple policy violations, for resident training with late-term abortionist Curtis Boyd, who owns the nation's largest abortion center providing abortions until the day of birth, Southwestern Women's Options (SWO). 

Sunday, the Albuquerque Journal reported that UNM Health Sciences Center (HSC) is halting the program, but that only came about once NMAFL uncovered and reported to state leaders and the Albuquerque Journal the invalidity of the contract and multiple violations of the University's policy for contractual agreements.  Lastly, the contract does not address medical malpractice insurance coverage by Dr. Boyd and his abortionists who according to the contract obtained by NMAFL, take on responsibility for "education and supervision of the fellows" who are training for "additional volume of 2nd trimester abortions." 

"Dr. Eve Espey acted in a reckless and unprofessional manner when she circumvented UNM contract policy by independently entering UNM into contract with Curtis Boyd, proprietor of SWO without the signatory authority to do so nor any concern for public health and safety," said Elisa Martinez, executive director of NMAFL. "Dr. Espey's contract with Curtis Boyd potentially exposes taxpayers to medical malpractice liability as there is no mention of medical malpractice insurance coverage by Dr. Boyd nor his staff abortionists. This is highly irresponsible of Dr. Espey, putting women, residents and taxpayers at risk since 2nd trimester abortion procedures, according to Boyd's own consent form, after 16 weeks are more dangerous than natural birth. Additionally, compensation for the students, safety and risk management concerns were not addressed and nor is there any indication that the contract "represents a good deal for the University" nor are  "measurable deliverables" outlined, as required by UNM contract policy."  
For comparison, NMAFL has also obtained a copy of a similar abortion training residency program contract UNM has with Planned Parenthood of New Mexico. The eight page contract is in stark comparison to the flimsy, one and half page "agreement" between Espey and Boyd. The contract is properly signed by legal counsel and the Associate Dean of Medicine (which is required by the UNM HSC contract signature policy) and is on Board of Regents letterhead. Furthermore, the Planned Parenthood contract addresses key elements required for contractual agreements including a clear outline of compensation for having residents work there and addresses medical malpractice liability.   

The question still remains for the taxpayers of NM, is what compensation has UNM received for sending residents to log hours at Curtis Boyd's late-term abortion clinic? 
As UNM has now ended its problematic late-term abortion training program with Curtis Boyd, NMAFL continues to demand answers as to how UNMHSC is obtaining aborted body parts, what is the payment for the parts and whether the HSC is properly storing and handing human body parts from the late-term abortion clinic. 
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Specific beeches of the contract that Dr. Espey entered the state into include lack of:
1   Approval from UNM legal department, the board of regents and the School of Medicine Dean's Office.  
2   Medical malpractice liability
3   Safety concerns for the residents 
4   Periodic reports of the residents' progress 
5   Requirements for inspections of the clinic 
6   Requirements to comply with HIPPA
7   Requirements of facility members to give supervision, provide educational goals, objectives and requires a program letter
8   Clearly outlined "measurable deliverables" which addresses compensation for the residents- no mention of this is made in Espey/Boyd contract  (what compensation is the University receiving?)
 
1) Lack of Signature Authority and Delegation:  Dr. Espey is not an authorized signatory as stated in Section 3 and 4 of the  Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual 7.8 Signature Authority for Contracts yet she was the only sole signatory on behalf of the University for the Boyd contract. 
 2) Dr. Espey violated the Delegations of Signature Authority for the Health Sciences Center and UNM Hospital Exhibit B2 Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, which requires the signature of the School of Medicine Dean or Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education for residency programs. Also, the contract does not indicate sufficient review by legal counsel or contract review officer as required by Section 5.2.
3) As initiator of the contract, Dr. Espey is therefore obligated to ensure the following requirements are met, which are not addressed anywhere in the agreement: 
A) the contract meets programmatic and University mission 
requirements 
B) the contract represents a good deal for the University, 
C) the contract has measurable deliverables, 
D) he or she can ensure compliance with the obligations it places on the University 
E) Safety and risk management concerns have been reasonably addressed, and 
F) the contract is sufficiently clear and consistent.


The New Mexico Alliance for Life is a nonpartisan organization focused on changing state and local laws by empowering women with better and informed choices when facing unplanned or difficult pregnancies and advocating for better protections for women and unborn children from an unsafe abortion industry. For more information visit www.nmallianceforlife.org