Local doctor under review for abortions

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A local doctor is under "careful review" after a complaint that he performs abortions. The issue is complicated because the doctor is associated with a Catholic hospital, and Catholics oppose abortion.

Dr. Richard Willard is an OB-GYN with an office on the fifth floor of the DePaul Medical Building.

There has been a complaint he is associated with Bon Secours Depaul Medical Center which is a Catholic Health Care Ministry while performing abortions at Planned Parenthood on Newtown Road.

Bon Secours is aware of this and told us, "We are confident that no procedures in violation of Catholic moral teachings are performed at Bon Secours DePaul,"  Bon Secours Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations Lynne Zultanky said.

Willard did not return our phone call, but a similar concern was lodged against him in 2005, and he was investigated by an independent moral theologian who determined since the procedures did not occur on property, DePaul was within the Catholic moral teachings.

Zultanky wrote, "Given that it has been five years since we last reviewed this issue, [we are] carefully reviewing this matter."

Abortions performed at Catholic health care ministries remain a sensitive issue.

In Arizona, Sister Margaret McBride, a Catholic nun and a staffmember at St. Joseph's Hospital, approved an abortion in the hospital that saved the mother's life.

However, when her superior found out, Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmstead excommunicated her. In a statement the bishop wrote, "The end does not justify the means."

There is no evidence now that any procedure took place at DePaul which appears to be the test in this case.

In the statement, Zultanky wrote, "We will take appropriate action to ensure faithfulness to our Catholic community and the greater Hampton Roads community."