Catholic Hospital Severs Ties with Abortion Doc Under Federal Probe

A Catholic hospital in Detroit has severed its ties, at least temporarily, with a West Bloomfield doctor under federal investigation after authorities found 14 bottles containing what is believed to be human tissue in the trunk of his car.

Authorities with the West Bloomfield Township Police Department, Michigan Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided the West Bloomfield home and Farmington Hills office of Dr. Michael Roth on Tuesday.

Roth, an OB-GYN specialist who had previously been cited for performing home abortions in 1998 and 1999, was placed on a leave of absence from St. John Providence Hospital, WXYZ-TV reports.

In a statement, the hospital said:

“Michael Roth, MD is a private practice physician (not employed by the hospital) on leave of absence.

“Our by-laws clearly require all physicians to adhere to the ethical religious directives, meaning no abortions in the hospital.”

Roth has a dubious history that includes botched abortions and malpractice allegations, The Oakland Press reports.

In 2004, the Michigan Department of Community Health fined him $15,000 for violating the state Public Health Code and ordered him “never to perform a pregnancy termination procedure outside an approved clinic, hospital or office setting,” a stipulation Roth reportedly agreed to honor.

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He was required to pay another fine, for $2,000, in 2012 for violation of duty and negligence. Violations against the physician date back to 1997 and include failure to keep accurate charts, not requiring blood work before procedures and issuing prescriptions without explaining the reason.

He also allegedly performed two abortions in the home of a woman who had been described as agoraphobic.

The vehicle was impounded, leading to the discovery of the fentanyl and possible human tissue and a subsequent investigation by the township police department, Michigan Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Besides the bottles containing the suspected human tissue found in baby food-sized bottles, authorities also seized several vials of large amounts of fentanyl, a powerful opioid used as a surgical anesthesia and for pain management.

In an interview with The Oakland Press, West Bloomfield Township Police Chief Mike Patton said the tissue specimens were not human fetuses.

He said the fentanyl “may be more problematic” for the physician.

“We believe some violations of the law have occurred but there is no rush to judgment,” Patton said.

Roth is licensed to practice from his office in Farmington HIlls and another office on Eight Mile Road in Eastpointe, the TV station said. He also had reportedly worked in Novi.

Roth hasn’t been charged in the investigation.