Murder at an Abortion Clinic

Nearly a year after his abortion clinic was raided by police, Dr. Kermit Gosnell was finally charged with seven counts of first-degree murder, and one count of third degree murder.

In early 2010 Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s abortion clinic, the Women’s Medical Society, was raided because of suspected drug trafficking. When authorities entered the center, they quickly noticed that though the center was still open and running, it seemed nearly abandoned, as the conditions were less than suitable, especially for women looking to get an abortion. These women came here as a last resort, because word had gotten around that Gosnell was providing abortions later in pregnancy than he was legally allowed to do (24 weeks PA Limit). To avoid getting caught, Gosnell had his staff trained to take pictures from a certain angle in order for the ultrasound of the baby to look smaller, and thus earlier in the pregnancy stage. Investigators later found out that many times if he sensed a failed abortion, Gosnell would quickly induce labor, and kill the baby right on the spot. This happened as many as seven times. The Philadelphia inquirer described the scene, “moaning women sat in dirty recliners and on bloodstained blankets. The air reeked of urine from the flea-infested cats permitted to roam the clinic. There was blood on the floor and cat feces on the stairs” (Philadelphia Inquirer). The clinic was set up in one of Philly’s lowest income neighborhoods where, “It's likely that Gosnell was the cheapest abortion provider around in a community that's not accustomed to the highest health-care standards anyway” (Health Land). It’s apparent that neither Gosnell nor his staff were properly trained or had any sort of degree. Because of this, many of his employees, nine in fact were charged along with him. Most notably a fifteen-year-old, unqualified employee was forced to anesthetize a 41-year-old woman about 7 months into pregnancy. She, along with the baby she was carrying died of an overdose of the anesthetics. Many of Gosnellls patients were illegal immigrants and other low-income residents with lack of insurance. This relates to numerous things we’ve studied this year, including many stories in Class Matters, and the Roe v. Wade Case regarding abortion itself. Ultimately, leads to the question of whether or not those with a disadvantage financially, should still have to have a disadvantage in the medical field, or should everyone have the same available healthcare?

http://healthland.time.com/2011/01/20/why-the-pa-abortion-docs-case-is-about-poverty-not-roe-v-wade/