A Toledo-based physician has been suspended and criminally charged following allegations that he secretly obtained abortion medication using his estranged wife’s identity and forcibly administered the drugs to his pregnant girlfriend without her consent.
The case, now under active investigation in Ohio, has raised serious concerns about medical ethics, reproductive consent, and the misuse of prescription abortion medications outside regulated healthcare settings.
Authorities say the incident did not involve a clinical abortion procedure but instead centered on non-consensual drug administration, prompting both criminal charges and professional disciplinary action.
The accused surgical resident from University of Toledo has been identified as Hassan-James Abbas, aged 32. Investigators state that Dr. Abbas and his girlfriend were in a relationship from October 2024 and she got pregnant in December. He ordered abortion pills online after he learned this, using the name of his estranged wife, without her knowledge or consent.
The girlfriend alleges that while she was asleep at his residence, Dr. Abbas forced the abortion pills into her mouth, causing her to ingest them against her will.
The woman tried to call 911, but Dr. Abbas disconnected the call.
The woman later sought medical care and reported the incident to law enforcement, leading to a multi-agency investigation.
The Ohio State Medical Board moved swiftly to suspend his medical license pending the outcome of the criminal case, citing concerns about patient safety and violations of professional conduct standards.
Lucas County Grand Jury records indicate that Dr. Abbas has denied the allegations of forcing the pill against the will but didn't deny that he ordered the pills and paid for it using his credit card. The case remains under judicial review.
While abortion laws vary widely across U.S. states, legal experts stress that this case is not about abortion access, but about:
Abduction
Unlawful distribution of abortion inducing drugs
Identity Fraud
Tampering with evidence
Non-consensual medical intervention
Misuse of prescription drugs
Abuse of professional authority
Dr. Abbas has been charged of all the above, and his license had been suspended last month.
Medication abortion typically involves two drugs:
Mifepristone, which blocks progesterone and halts pregnancy progression
Misoprostol, which induces uterine contractions to expel pregnancy tissue
These medications are approved for use only with informed consent and under regulated medical supervision, depending on jurisdiction.
Medical experts emphasize that forced ingestion of these drugs constitutes medical assault, regardless of pregnancy outcome. Improper use can result in complications such as severe bleeding, infection, incomplete abortion, and psychological trauma.
(Rh/TL/MSM)