Philadelphia Abortion Clinic Shut Down After Federal Raid

March 8, 2010 - PRLog -- The story of a West Philadelphia abortion doctor whose clinic was shut down last month for "deplorable and unsanitary conditions" should give caution to women seeking abortions in the Chicago area.

The clinic of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, which had blood on the floor and fetuses in jars, was raided by federal drug enforcement agents and was shut down by the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine, according to Philly.com, which carries news of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News. The board’s order also said an unlicensed employee gave prescription painkillers to patients, including one who developed a fatal arrhythmia in November after being given multiple doses, according to the website.

In a stinging editorial, the Inquirer said that Gosnell’s street corner clinic was more like a “third-world outpost.” Besides the death of one of his patients in November, Gosnell performed an abortion on a woman in 2000 who died three days later from a perforated uterus and infection.

Gosnell, 69, defended his practice, saying he has done his best to provide “the very best care” to his patients, according to Philly.com.

The State Board of Medicine called the clinic a “clear, danger to the public,” and pulled Gosnell’s medical license. Delaware’s State Board of Medical Practice temporarily suspended his license Mar. 3.

Forty-six Civil Lawsuits

Since 1981, Gosnell has been named in 46 civil lawsuits, including 10 malpractice claims. “It apparently took the death of a second patient to get the medical board to act. In reality, Gosnell's license probably should've been revoked years ago,” the newspaper’s editorial read.

In 2007, Gosnell performed an abortion on a 13-year-old girl without her parents' consent. He paid $10,000 to settle a civil suit in the matter, according to Philly.com.

Botched abortions are nothing new. In 2007, 22-year-old Laura Hope Smith died of complications following an abortion at a clinic in Hynnis, MA.

The news serves as a caution to women in Berwyn, Cicero, Stickney, Riverside, North Riverside, Westchester, and other nearby Illinois communities, who need to be careful about choosing a clinic before deciding whether to terminate their pregnancies. For more information, contact WomanCare Services in Berwyn, at 708-795-6000. Or go to http://www.womancare.org.

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WomanCare Services, of Berwyn, IL provides help to women with unexpected pregnancies. Our consultations are confidential. Call 708-795-6000. Or go to http://www.womancare.org.