Receptionist Claims Dallas Doctor Fired Her for Refusing to Get an Abortion

Update on Aug. 10: Got an email response from Nalini Samuel, who works in Prabhakar's office. Haven't been served yet. Would love to comment- completely untrue- shakedown to get money. Ask her about her criminal record- Dr. Prabhakar is pro life. Original post: Christina Garcia began working as an $11-per-hour...

By Eric Nicholson

August 9, 2012

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Update on Aug. 10: Got an email response from Nalini Samuel, who works in Prabhakar's office.

Haven't been served yet. Would love to comment- completely untrue- shakedown to get money. Ask her about her criminal record- Dr. Prabhakar is pro life.

Original post: Christina Garcia began working as an $11-per-hour receptionist for Dr. Meenakshi Prabhakar, a North Dallas internist, in August 2010. Six months later, she found out she was pregnant.

When she mentioned that fact to her Prabhakar, Garcia claims in a lawsuit filed recently in Dallas County and first reported by Courthouse News, he ordered her to get an abortion, offering to pay for the procedure and college expenses. She would need to vow to take birth control pills in the future, but he would pay for those too, the suit claims. When she refused, Garcia says she was fired.

The filing doesn't offer an explanation as to why Prabhakar was allegedly so eager for her employee to terminate her pregnancy. Garcia's attorney, W.D. Masterson, wasn't available, but when I told his receptionist I was from the Observer, she responded with an enthusiastic "Haaaaay!" So that's nice.

The receptionist at Prabhakar's office was less enthusiastic but told me to email Prabhakar, which I did. I'll update it when I get a response.

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