CLEVELAND, OH – A Cleveland woman’s report of a harrowing assault has led to criminal charges against a local doctor, after prosecutors say he attempted to force abortion pills into her mouth while she was asleep.
According to court documents, the woman, whose identity is being withheld due to privacy concerns, first learned she was pregnant in December 2024. She reportedly shared the news with Hassan-James Abbas, her boyfriend, shortly after beginning a relationship with him following his separation from his wife. Abbas, 32, expressed that he wanted her to terminate the pregnancy, but she declined and made her decision clear, authorities say.
Despite her wishes, investigators allege that Abbas took extraordinary measures to acquire abortion-inducing drugs. He is accused of ordering mifepristone and misoprostol using his estranged wife’s personal information without her consent. The drugs were delivered to Abbas’ residence a few days after the order was placed, according to medical board documentation.
Just hours after the medication arrived, Abbas allegedly procured legitimate anti-nausea prescriptions for his girlfriend, which she picked up from a local pharmacy. Officials say this act established a formal doctor-patient relationship, which became a key element in the ongoing investigation.
Days later, on December 18, the woman was spending the night at Abbas’ home. According to state medical board findings, she awoke in the early morning hours to Abbas physically restraining her. With force, he shoved a crushed pill between her lip and gums, holding her down as she struggled to escape. Medical investigators say she fought him off and managed to get to the kitchen, where she called 911. Abbas allegedly interrupted the call by taking her phone.
Undeterred, the woman left Abbas’ home and drove herself to an emergency room, where she told staff about the attack and the suspected forced administration of medication. Emergency personnel immediately began treating her for potential drug ingestion and contacted law enforcement.
Authorities later determined that the drugs involved were the same abortion medications ordered days before. During a medical board interview in July 2025, Abbas admitted he had researched and ordered the medications using his estranged wife’s information and confessed to crushing the pills in hopes they would dissolve more quickly. He further told investigators that he had “substituted his medical judgment” for proper instructions.
Abbas now faces six felony charges, including abduction, evidence tampering, identity fraud, and the unlawful distribution of abortion drugs. He is slated to appear for arraignment on December 19.
The State Medical Board of Ohio suspended Abbas’ medical license in November after details of the case emerged, pointing to violations of both ethical and legal standards.
The victim, though shaken by the ordeal, was able to avoid serious physical injury due to her quick response and decisive actions in seeking help, according to officials close to the investigation.