The Georgia Obstetrical and Gynecological Society said Saturday its offices in Suwanee were burglarized and computers with information on its membership were stolen.
In a statement Saturday, the group’s president, Dr. David Byck, confirmed the break-in at its Gwinnett County offices.
“The computer equipment contained the membership of the association as well as financial and other administrative information,” Byck said. Efforts to obtain more information on the break-in from Gwinnett County authorities were unsuccessful Saturday.
The group has been fighting anti-abortion bills being considered in the state General Assembly. It has been active since 1951 and has more than 950 members. Its offices are on Tench Road in Gwinnett.
“It is a shame that this non-profit, physician association responsible for advancing the cause of providing quality care to Georgia’s women and their unborn children was the victim of such a crime today,” Byck said. “The police officers said that the break-in looked well planned and it’s frightening that the personal and family information of our membership has been stolen. There cannot be a good intent behind such a crime.”
The GOGS has been fighting both House and Senate bills, urging members to contact lawmakers to urge them “not to criminalize physicians caring for the women of Georgia.”
On its website, the group says HB 954 would allow no terminations of pregnancies after 20 weeks unless the life of the mother is already in serious physical jeopardy. Any terminations 20 weeks or after must be by cesarean section to save the fetus “even with anencephaly or terminal anomaly,” the group says.
The group also says a physician may be sentenced to one to 10 years in prison for terminations post 20 weeks, and all terminations at any gestation must be reported publicly.
The group urged members to contact their senators to fight the bill.
The group also urged members to fight Senate Bills 434 and 438 which it says would prevent insurance companies from covering miscarriages.
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