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State revokes doctor's license Physician had performed abortions without certification By Jennifer Thomas jthomas@centredaily.com STATE COLLEGE -- The Pennsylvania Department of State has revoked the medical license of a doctor who performed abortions at a State College clinic and other facilities across the state. Dr. Harvey Brookman, of Yardley, was also fined $50,000 at the June 29 revocation. He must cease practicing medicine and surgery in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Brookman performed more than 2,400 abortions for various American Women's Services facilities between June 2001 and October 2004 -- including State College Medical Services on West College Avenue -- but court documents show he is not board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology. A call to a number listed for Brookman was not returned Tuesday. The board found him guilty of failing to maintain medical malpractice insurance, unprofessional conduct and continued practice of medicine beyond the scope of his license. The state board said that Brookman did not have medical malpractice insurance -- something he circumvented by informing the Pennsylvania Insurance Department he was retired -- and failed to mention it twice when he applied for license renewals with the board. A review found "unprofessional conduct due to actions that departed from the quality standards of the profession," the document said. In one case, the board stated in its decision, Brookman "breached the standards of care" in his treatment and performance of an elective abortion on a 17-year-old patient. Her uterus and bowel were perforated during the abortion and, as a result, the patient later required emergency surgery at a Philadelphia hospital. Brookman's record came under scrutiny after Centre County Citizens Concerned for Human Life, an anti-abortion advocacy group, filed complaints with the state Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs and the state Department of Health. The board's order notes that Brookman's career was spotted with problems. In April 1994, he was publicly reprimanded by the state medical board and fined $2,500, the order states. Less than a year later his license was temporarily suspended, and remained so until May 13, 1996, the order states. That same year, Brookman voluntarily surrendered his New Jersey medical license and had his license revoked in New York. His license was again temporarily suspended in April 2005.
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