The Scalpel and the Soul: Our Radical Transformation as Husband and Wife Abortion Doctors

by Noreen Johnson, Haywood Robinson

THE UNLIKELY STORY OF A HUSBAND-WIFE ABORTION TEAM It has been a remarkable journey. In The Scalpel and the Soul , join two young students from widely differing backgrounds through their Southern California medical residency romance and into their deep love for the practice of medicine and for one another. In 1979-80, standing on the threshold of marriage and a bright future for their own practice together, they began providing abortions as a way to recover from substantial medical education debt. Why? What drew them in? What propelled them forward? Enter their world. Watch as they set up practice in Texas—a whole new world for both of them. In fact, they were the only Black doctors in their entire community. But once there, they found what they least a dramatic spiritual reawakening that turned their lives upside down. Not only did they find themselves changed forever, but they were given a firm and passionate conviction that they should never again perform or refer for abortion. Now what? How would they respond when Planned Parenthood moved into town? When pro-abortion and pro-life advocates collided? How did these two unlikely pro-life champions find themselves on the frontlines as a remarkable pro-life movement was born and spread across the globe? The Scalpel and the Soul not only tells of transformation—reading it, hearing it, and sharing it brings transformation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Medical

216 pages, Hardcover

Published June 20, 2023

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very important book and a fairly quick read. Not an easy read to some degree because of the transparency of the authors and their journey ... from being doctors who do abortions to doctors who come to understand why they can no longer do abortions ... to doctors who believe they must help stop more babies/moms/families from abortion.

The clarity with which they explain how medical school culture normalizes the abortion procedure and promise/reality of lucrative additional income further mitigates feelings of discomfort about the procedure, is helpful to see through the media/political talking points regarding abortion.

Highly recommend.

[grllopez ~ with freedom and books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about two doctors (husband and wife) who tell how they went through medical school where medical students are given the opportunity to first watch an abortion and then later perform an abortion, preparing them to be desensitized to the procedure. Both doctors went on to perform thousands of abortions as a way to make quick and easy money.

Yet, their story is also about how they were convicted once they came to know Jesus Christ as their Savior and how He transformed them to use their experience to promote the pro life message that all human beings are created in God's image, and even babies in the womb have value. They also talked about how they had to learn how to grieve what they had done to themselves, not only to thousands of babies, but also to the countless women who chose to abort their babies.

I gave it three stars because the writing style is not exceptional. Otherwise, it is an essential story, and I am grateful they were able to share it.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two young residents, Haywood Robinson and Noreen Johnson who met in medical school in Southern California, learned quickly that there was a lot of extra money to be made in the abortion industry so they quickly jumped on the gravy train.

A few years later after marrying and practicing medicine in SoCal, they moved to Bryan/ College Station, TX, ready to set up practice in an area where they would be the first Black physicians. After meeting a new neighbor who was a pastor, they attended his church and Haywood began to change his beliefs; later Noreen as had her own experience changing her beliefs.

They were so convicted they became a part of a small group protesting the first Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in the area.

I'll stop there to say this story was powerful, moving and gripped my heart. Part of my connection was that we went to the same church and met Haywood and Noreen. They even invited us to their home for one of their weekly praise and worship nights. They truly loved the Lord! One other touching incident was when my husband was in the hospital for surgery and and they were taking him from his room to the OR. Haywood happened to see my husband and asked the man pushing the gurney to stop so he could pray over my husband. No one was else was in the hallway but this powerful image is set in my heart. This is just the kind of people they were, yet there was so much more I learned in this book of their personal story.

I highly recommend this book!

[Joyce Stahle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!
It was great to hear from former abortion doctors as to why they couldn't murder babies any longer. I have long wondered how doctors could murder babies. Well, I now know how they do it, they become desensitized, dehumanize the baby by not calling it a baby, refusing to look into the mother's eyes and never focus on the baby as a life.
Haywood and Noreen's story is tough. Praise God they are believers, and they are saving the lives of the unborn. Medical missionaries and are very active in the pro-life movement.

[James Knaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding personal commentary based on their conversion away from abortion to substantial contributions to the pro-life effort. Prepare to weep at least four times -- in joyful thanksgiving!

[Karen Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very moving example of how God works in our lives!

[Alison Mcclorey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing is pretty simple but the story is amazing...the doctors were so courageous to come forth with their story and then all the good that they did (and are doing) is just inspiring