Aborted Fetuses in Jars in Philadelphia Doctor's Office

Feb. 24, 2010— -- A Philadelphia abortion doctor had his license temporarily suspended after a patient died in an allegedly botched abortion and a raid on his office turned up what the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine said was "blood on the floor and parts of aborted fetuses displayed in jars."

"The conditions were horrific, uncleanly, just abysmal," board spokeswoman Leslie Amoros told the ABC News Law & Justice Unit, referring to Dr. Kermit B. Gosnell's "Family Medical Society."

"People were practicing without a license," she said. "A non-licensed person was administering drugs. We were present at the raid and our investigators gleaned there was enough evidence for a petition to suspend. We immediately issued a temporary suspension."

Amoros could not confirm or deny reports of fetuses also found in an office freezer, some reportedly dating back decades.

'Immediate and Clear Danger'

The State Board of Medicine's petition, filed Monday, alleged that Gosnell "is the only licensed medical professional that works in the clinic" and that "the clinic is open during the day, however, [Gosnell] does not arrive to the clinic until sometime between 6-9 p.m."The petition said that the "pre op/recovery area consisted of several 'Lazy Boy' recliners grouped together," and that at around 9 p.m. last Thursday, at the time of the raid, the clinic was "full of patients," and that an unlicensed employee "admitted that she administers drugs to patients, namely diazepam, tamazepam, and Cytotec (both orally and vaginally)" under Gosnell's direction.

Gosnell is an "immediate and clear danger to the public health and safety," the petition claimed.

The petition added that the patient who died was being anesthetized by unlicensed personnel when Gosnell arrived at the clinic to perform the abortion.

Afterwards, according to the board, the patient "started to have an arrhythmia," and was then "transported to the hospital where she was eventually pronounced dead."

'A Multiagency Investigation'

Authorities involved in the raid did not comment, but the Federal Bureau of Investigation appeared to be taking the helm.

"This is a multiagency investigation -- an ongoing federal investigation -- and that's all we can say at this time," a Pennsylvania Department of Health official told ABC News.

The U.S. Attorney's office said, "We do not confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations."

"We were out there last week conducting investigative activities," Agent J.J. Klaver of the Philadelphia FBI Field Office told the Law & Justice Unit. "Other than that I cannot discuss what our involvement is."

A preliminary hearing is expected to be scheduled within a month.

Dr. Gosnell could not be reached for comment.