An Ohio physician has had his medical license summarily suspended and now faces multiple felony charges after allegedly trying to secretly give his pregnant girlfriend abortion medication while she was asleep.
Dr. Hassan-James Abbas, 32, was indicted on Wednesday, Dec. 3, by a Lucas County grand jury on six felony counts, including abduction, tampering with evidence, unlawful distribution of an abortion-inducing drug, disrupting public services, identity fraud and deception to obtain a dangerous drug, according to WTOL, WTVG and The Toledo Blade.
Abbas’ attorney, Kelle Saull, told WTOL in a statement that their office is aware of the grand jury’s indictments. “We are relieved that the criminal process has finally begun,” she said, adding that they are not ruling out additional indictments as the case moves forward.
The Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office and Abbas’ attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, the State Medical Board of Ohio said it issued Hassan-James Abbas, MD, a Notice of Opportunity for Hearing and Summary Suspension on Nov. 5, 2025.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/university-of-toledo-medical-center-1-120925-adfe240379b94adf90fefbf4f2743e54.jpg)
“A summary suspension suspends a license to practice prior to a hearing,” the board explained. “The suspension must be based on clear and convincing evidence that continued practice by the licensee poses a danger of immediate and serious harm to the public.”
According to the board, Abbas’ hearing is scheduled for May 14 and 15, 2026. Afterward, a hearing examiner will prepare a Report and Recommendation outlining the basis for the hearing, findings of fact, conclusions of law and a proposed sanction for the board to consider. The full board will then make a final decision at a future meeting.
The board’s Notice of Opportunity for Hearing and Summary Suspension alleges that Abbas began a romantic relationship with a woman in late 2024 after separating from his estranged wife; the woman had previously been one of his patients. She informed him in December 2024 that she was pregnant. According to the notice, Abbas urged her to have an abortion, but she declined.
The board alleges that after learning of the pregnancy, Abbas used his own credit card to order prescription abortion medication from an out-of-state provider, but used his estranged wife’s personal information without her knowledge or consent.
Once the medication arrived at his home, Abbas allegedly tried to administer it to his girlfriend while she was staying overnight, the notice states. She later told authorities that she awoke to find Abbas on top of her, holding her down as he “forced a crushed powder inside her bottom lip.”
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/university-of-toledo-medical-center-120925-2456df76ac8f4539881d1aa63195c673.jpg)
She said she fought him off and ran to the kitchen to call 911, but Abbas allegedly hung up the call. She then went to an emergency room and reported that she had been attacked, according to the board.
In a July 2025 interview with board investigators, Abbas allegedly admitted that he ordered the drugs using his estranged wife’s information and gave the crushed pills to his girlfriend, but claimed she had agreed to take them. He also said he threw the remaining crushed pills out of his car window on his way to work after the incident, the notice alleges.
Based on the incident, the medical board said it found “clear and convincing evidence” that Abbas’ continued practice presents “an immediate and serious danger to the public.”
Abbas is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, Dec. 19, according to WTOL.