Ohio Doctor Indicted for Forcing Pregnant Girlfriend to Take Abortion Pill

An Ohio doctor, Hassan James Abbas, aged 32, faces serious charges for allegedly coercing his pregnant girlfriend into taking an abortion pill as she slept. Abbas, who is a surgical resident at the University of Toledo, had his medical license suspended in November due to these alarming accusations. Recently, on December 3, a grand jury indicted him on six felony counts.

According to court documents, Abbas is facing charges that include kidnapping, tampering with evidence, illegal distribution of abortion-inducing drugs, and identity fraud. It appears that Abbas began a relationship with an unnamed woman in 2024 after separating from his wife.

The woman, referred to as “Patient 1,” informed Abbas about her pregnancy on December 7, 2024. Reportedly, he reacted by pressuring her to terminate the pregnancy.

When the woman opposed the idea, Abbas allegedly used his wife’s identity to secretly order mifepristone and misoprostol online. The situation escalated when he crushed a pill and tried to force it into her mouth as she slept. A notice explained that Patient 1 woke up briefly to find him on top of her and thought it was just an embrace, only to realize he was holding her down while attempting to administer the crushed medication.

The woman managed to escape and called 911 but found that Abbas had taken her phone. She eventually got to a hospital, where she was informed that the pregnancy had been terminated through medication.

The University of Toledo stated that Abbas was placed on leave following the suspension of his medical license by the Ohio State Medical Board. The board indicated that it had issued a notice to Abbas in early November, providing him a chance for a hearing regarding the summary suspension.

A spokesperson from the university emphasized that the ongoing investigation by the state is unrelated to his professional role at UToledo and that the institution upholds high standards of conduct. The board highlighted that a summary suspension is warranted when there’s compelling evidence that a licensee’s continued practice represents an immediate risk to public safety.

The woman’s attorney, Kele Saul, described the case as one of the most “heinous” she has encountered. She alleged that both the University of Toledo and ProMedica had prior knowledge of the situation but did not take appropriate action. Saul noted that the investigation by the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office has been ongoing for nearly a year, and it was only after the Ohio Medical Board intervened that her client saw meaningful action.

A public hearing is set for May 14-15, 2026, during which board members will recommend disciplinary measures following their assessment that allowing Abbas to continue practicing medicine poses a serious risk to public safety.