By Brad Segall

ABINGTON, Pa. (CBS) — Obstetrics and gynecology doctors at Abington Memorial Hospital in Montgomery County say they have serious concerns about an administration plan to perform abortions off-site.

The hospital’s administration is hoping to convince the doctors to get on board with a planned merger with Holy Redeemer Health System (see related story) by offering a compromise: an off-campus location for pregnancy termination care.

But Dr. Vivian Greenberg calls that “unacceptable,” and says it’s not a safe option — especially for doctors.

“These physicians who are providing this have families and don’t want to make themselves an open target,” she says.  “Providing these services within the hospital gives them a great deal of protection that they would not have at the freestanding facility.”

She notes that rabid abortion opponents have been known to commit murder of doctors who perform the procedure.

She says many of the key ob-gyn providers at a meeting late yesterday with hospital administrators said they would not go off site and would look to move their practices elsewhere if the partnership goes through.   She says the administration also used the meeting to again convey a sense of urgency about the hospital’s future financial health and hoped to find a way to get the doctors on board with the planned merger.