U.S. politics: Santorum longs for Good Old Days of back-alley abortions

This is truly disgusting. U.S. Republican candidate for president, Rick Santorum, wants to bring back the good old days of women getting abortions in the shadows of back alleys.

Santorum’s nostalgia for a time before doctors could legally perform abortions was also a time when women regularly died or were seriously injured by illegal procedures. Roughly 50 percent of all maternal deaths in the first half of the 20th century were from illegal abortions, and an estimated 160 to 260 women died each year in the 1950s and 1960s from illegal abortions. But for Santorum, the fact that women no longer face those dangers is a sign of what harm can come from health care reform.

When there was no choice

This is why we need legal abortion: When there was no choice.

At 77, Dr. Harry S. Jonas can still pinpoint the exact moment when he understood the importance of making abortion legal. The year was 1952 and he was an eager, young obstetrics-gynecology intern in Independence, Miss.. The specialty promised exciting pregnancies and bouncing babies, but his very first patient entered the hospital extremely sick. A mother of 12 children, she had tried—unsuccessfully—to induce an abortion. "She came into the hospital with her intestines hanging out her vagina," recalls Jonas. "Then she died."

Illegal abortions kill: Part 2

Illegal abortions kill people. That's why we need contraception, sex education, and legal abortions done early in a hospital with antibiotics and all emergency equipment at hand. Nevertheless, anti-choice groups have lovingly collected tales of the Danger of Abortions, in an attempt to confuse oranges with apples.

These stories are about abortions done by doctors. The deaths occurred between 1839 and 1968---yes, they had to go back to the 1800s to amass this impressive list--but most were in the first half of the 20th Century--before antibiotics. Because abortion was illegal, doctors were not trained in how to do them safely. Other abortions were done by self-taught practitioners such as nurses. See Illegal abortion kills, Part 1.)

These stories are reminders of what it is like today in countries with little medical care for pregnant women.

The reason that deaths from illegal abortions taper off is because of better medical care, increased access to contraception, and, of course, the fact that illegal abortions are dangerous led to the legalization of abortion.

Illegal Abortions Done by Doctors

The bulk of illegal abortions were done by physicians. Here are some of the fatal results of their good intentions.

1800s

1. Eliza Sowers. A Philadelphia boarding house owner reported that in early October of 1839, a Dr. Henry Chauncey appeared at breakfast time and had her make some special tea. The tea was given to 21-year-old Eliza Sowers, a paper mill worker.
2. Mary Ackerly. Mary's seducer kept her in a brothel while he arranged for the abortion that took her life in 1846.
3. Jemima Beneway. In February of 1858, Jemima's parents and friends thought they were sending her off to be married, not for a fatal abortion at the hands of Dr. Milton Gray. 
4. Mary Visscher. This young factory worker died in the home of midwife/physicians Elizabeth Byrnes and Mary E. Smith in 1859.
5. Amelia Weber. On May 19, 1858, Mrs. Amelia Weber died at the home of Dr. Cobel in Brooklyn. Suspicions were raised and she was exhumed for an investigation.
6. Susan A. Webster. Susan's uncle and her abortionist were arrested for her death in 1858.
7. Olive Ash. Accompanied by her twin sister, Olivia, Olive went to Dr. William Howard's home to secure an abortion in 1858.
8. Louisa Hullsberger. At the 1863 sentencing of Dr. A. L. Alstead, the judge had some harsh words for him.  
9. Emma Wolfer. Pregnant by a doctor, working for a doctor, this young woman still died of her abortion in 1865.
10. Magdalena Philippi. On March 16, 1869, Magdalena Philippi died of complications of an abortion performed on her, evidently by a Dr. Gabriel Wolff.
11.  Belle Wertz. A spontaneous coroner's inquest broke out during the 1874 funeral of abortion victim Belle Wertz.  
12. Mary Foorman. Mary disappeared without a trace in November of 1875. It wasn't until the following May that her brother confessed to helping bury her in a swamp after she died in an abortion he helped to arrange.
13. Jennie P. Clar. Jennie's body was found stuffed into a trunk tossed into the Saugus River in 1879. 
14. Mary McCarty. In 1880, Dr. Banks was arrested for the abortion death of Mary McCarty.
15. Gussie Ellergood. On Saturday, July 1, 1882, Gussie Ellergood of Carlisle, Illinois, died in a St. Louis hospital. She named Dr. McWilliams as her abortionist. 
16. Mrs. O'Connor. Dr. Arichibald Lawson fled to avoid arrest in Mrs. O'Connors 1883 death.
17. Lizzie Cook. Twenty-five-year-old Lizzie Cook, a farmer's daughter, died suddenly on July 27, 1884, in Lockport, New York. Suspicions surrounding this woman's death led to an exhumation which uncovered the abortion.
18. Hughretta Binkley. At lunchtime on April 1, 1898, Hughretta "Etta" Binkley went to the residence/office of Dr. Belle Howard, aka Belle Shotwell, for an illegal abortion.
19. Cora Burke. Cora A. Burke was a 20-year-old who had been widowed about five months. In May of 1899, Cora told Mrs. Martha Johnson that she was about six weeks pregnant and wanted to find a good doctor to perform an abortion. Mrs. Johnson introduced Cora to Dr. R. J. Alcorn.
20. Marie Hicht. Marie, who died in 1899, was one of many victims of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz. Other deaths attributed to Dr. Hagenow include Bridget Masterson, Mary Moorehead, Nina Pierce, Elizabeth Welter, Lottie Lowy, and Jean Cohen.

1900-1909

1. Ida Henry. In 1900, Ida died at the home she shared with Dr. Paulina Bechtel, from complications of an abortion Bechtel had performed on her there that day. Bechtel was also implicated in the death of Barbara Shelgren.
2. Barbara Shelgren. In 1900, Barbara died at Augustana Hospital in Chicago of an abortion performed there that day. Paulina Bechtel, identified elsewhere as a doctor, was implicated in the death. She was also implicated in the death of Ida Henry.
3. Julia K. Pettinger. On January 7, 1901, Mrs. Julia K. Pettinger died in her home from an abortion performed there that day, attributed to Dr. Maggie Becker.
4. Mrs. G.H. Matteson. On May 9, 1901, Mrs. Matteson, a homemaker, died from an illegal abortion in Chicago. Mrs. Matteson's husband was arrested, as was Dr. J.B. Butts.
5. Mrs. George W. Robinson. Mrs. Robinson, age 28, died at her Chicago home on August 18, 1901, from an abortion performed there that day. Dr. Muenster was arrested for the death.
6. Rose Lefebre. On December 2, 1901, the body of Rose Lefebre was found in the office of Dr. Volbending. It appeared that Rose had died from an abortion.
7. Irma Brown. On November 15, 1901, 22-year-old Irma Brown of Garden City, Kansas, died at County Hospital from complications of an abortion performed there that day. Dr. Robert E. Gray was arrested. 
8. Irene Wengel. In June of 1902, Irene Wengel travelled to Tampa, Florida, where she was met by her cousin, J. Carl Christian. Christian had arranged for her to stay at the home of Dr. Frederick N. Weightnovel for an abortion.
9. Florence Gaiewski. On September 3, 1903, Mrs. Florence Gaiewski died in St. Mary's Hospital in Chicago from an abortion performed there that day. Dr. Ladislaw Slominski was arrested.
10. Alice Bloom. Some time in early 1905, 28-year-old Alice Bloom died suddenly in Chicago from an apparent criminal abortion. Dr. Julius N. Goltz as arrested as a principal.
11. May Putnam. May, who died in 1905, was one of many victims of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz.
12. Lola Madison. 1906. Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz, was arrested in the abortion death of this 28-year-old woman from Salt Lake City.
13. Annie Horvatich. Annie, who died in 1907, was one of many victims of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz.
14. Mrs. Gies. Shortly after the 1908 abortion death of Mrs. Gies, her abortionist was poisoned.

1910-1919

1. Anna L. Mueller. On June 25, 1911, 20-year-old Mrs. Anna L. Mueller died from a criminal abortion performed by Dr. George Lotz. 
2. Emma Chandler. Dr. J. A. Richmond was arrested for the 1913 abortion death of Emma Chandler.
3. Lillie Giovenco. On October 1, 1914, 18-year-old Lillie Giovenco died in Chicago from complications of a criminal abortion blamed on Drs. Eva Shaver, Leopold Pijan, and John Fernow. Shaver was also responsible for the death of Anna Johnson. 
4. Florence S. Lindquist. On April 26, 1914, eighteen-year-old Florence S. Lindquist died in the Chicago home of Dr. Arthur Schulz.
5. Anna Anderson. On October 15, 1915, Anna, a 25-year-old unmarried woman, went to the office of Dr. A. A. Ausplund seeking an abortion.
6. Anna Johnson. In May 26, 1915, Anna Johnson died from an abortion performed by Dr. Eva Shaver, who then shot the dead woman in the head to disguise the death as a suicide. Shaver was one of the doctors implicated in the death of Lillie Giovenco.
7. Alda Christopherson. Dr. Lillian Hobbs was convicted in the 1916 abortion death of this 21-year-old unmarried Chicago woman.
8. Katherine Cross. Katherine was one of two women to die in as many months at the hands of Dr. A.H. Yates in 1917.
9. Eva Swan. In September of 1910, Eva died after a "Dr. Grant" performed an abortion on her. "Dr. Grant," it turned out, was actually a Dr. Robert Thompson, a graduate of Dartmouth and Baltimore Medical College.
10. Elise Stone. Elise was one of two women to die in as many months at the hands of Dr. A.H. Yates in 1917.
11. Ada Williams. Dr. Noble O. Hamilton was blamed for the 1917 death of Ada Williams in Colorado.
12. Mary Park. Two doctors were implicated in Mary's 1917 death. One was sentenced to prison, the other sent to a mental hospital.

1920-1929

1. Alice Johnson. In 1923, Alice died at Chicago's West End Hospital from a criminal abortion performed there that day. The coroner identified Dr. Lorenz Lapsky as being responsible.
2. Emma Herod. In 1923, Emma died of an abortion performed in her Chicago home.
3. Madelyn Anderson. In 1924, Madelyn died at Chicago's Washington Park Hospital from back alley abortion complications. Dr. Louise Achtenberg was arrested for Madelyn's death.
4. Helen Bain. On November 20, 1925, 23-year-old Helen died in Chicago from complications of a criminal abortion performed that day. Dr. George Slater was arrested.
5. Jean Cohen. Jean, who died in 1925, was one of many victims of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz. Other deaths attributed to Dr. Hagenow include Bridget Masterson, Mary Moorehead, Nina Pierce, Elizabeth Welter, Lottie Lowy, and Marie Hicht.
6. Betty Fisher. On June 13, 1925, 24-year-old Betty died in the Chicago office of doctors August Goetz and Henry Gautsen from an abortion performed that day.
7. Edith Green. Edith's boyfriend admitted to police that he had arranged for an abortion by Dr. Thomas E. Walsh in 1926.
8. Ethel Horner. On October 15, 1926, 23-year-old Ethel died at Chicago's Jackson park Hospital from an abortion performed earlier that day. Dr. Albert Peacock was arrested the following day.
9. Jeanette Jarrett. On October 11, 1926, Jeanette, a 28-year-old Black woman, died from complications of a criminal abortion performed on her that day. A Black doctor, Roy Shell, was held by the coroner.
10.  Alice Annalora. On March 20, 1926, 19-year-old Alice died at the County Hospital in Chicago from complications of an abortion performed that day. Dr. Wilford Vine was booked for Alice's death.
11. Auna Arola. In 1927, 31-year-old Auna died from a criminal abortion in Chicago. Dr. Vincent Tonavena was arrested.
12. Shellane Franklin. In 1927, 27-year-old Shellane, a Black woman, died at the scene of an abortion performed on her that day. Dr. Gordon Jackson, a white man, was held by the coroner.
13. Irene Campbell. On August 9, 1927, Irene died in the Chicago office of Dr. Herman Webber from an abortion performed there that day. 
14. Nancy Dawson. On March 21, 1927, Nancy died on-site from a criminal abortion performed that day. Dr. J.F. Peck and midwife Christine Sedwig were booked for murder
15. Julia Agoston. In 1928, 24-year-old Julia died from a criminal abortion in Chicago. Dr. Anton Feher and Dr. Helen Moskowitz were held in the death.
16. Anna Borndal. On November 4, 1928, 22-year-old Anna died at the office of Dr. Lou E. Davis of Chicago, from complications of an abortion performed there that day.
17. Dr. Davis was implicated in the deaths of Esther Wahlstrom and Mary Whitney.
18. Loretta Enders. Dr. Amenti Rongetti's death sentence was handed down by a Chicago jury March 1, 1928. Rongetti had been convicted of murder in the abortion death of 19-year-old Loretta Enders. A year later, he was implicated in the death of Elizabeth Palumbo.
19. Rose Hannover. On June 22, 1928, 31-year-old Rose died at the office of Dr. Lester I. Ofner from complications of an abortion performed there that day.
20. Arretta Hardesty. In 1928, Roy E. Hardesty won an award of $5,000 for the death of his wife, Arretta. Arretta had paid a physician, John T. Martin, $10 for the abortion, which was performed surgically.
21. Emmy Anderson. In 1929, Dr. Sven Windrow performed a fatal abortion on 19-year-old Emmy at a Chicago location. 
22. Virginia Clark. On February 21, 1929, Virginia Clark died of complications of a botched, illegal abortion. Virginia was treated prior to her death by a Dr. McArthur, who said that Virginia told him that when she learned that she was pregnant, the man responsible arranged for an abortion by a doctor.
23. Winifred Garver. On June 24, 1929, 19-year-old Winifred Garver underwent an abortion at the office of Dr. Anna Schultz, aka Rollins.
24. Agnes Johnson. On October 12, 1929, 33-year-old Agnes underwent a criminal abortion at the Chicago office of Dr. Joseph Stern.
25. Margaret Marts. Mrs. Marts went to a Dr. Anderson, who she'd previously never seen. He did not examine her, but made arrangements to go to her home around noon the following day, January 20, 1920, to perform "an operation."
26. Etta Marcus. In 1924, 30-year-old Etta died from complications of a criminal abortion performed that day. The coroner concluded that Dr. William J. Wick had performed the fatal abortion at his office
27. Lottie Lowy. Lottie, who died in 1925, was one of many victims of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz. 
28. Bridget Masterson. Bridget, who died in 1925, was one of many victims of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz.
29. Viola Koepping. On June 7, 1929, 20-year-old Viola died at the office of Dr. Albert West of Chicago, from an abortion evidently performed that day.
30. Ellen Matson. Dr. Lillian Hobbs was sentenced to 14 years in Joliet Prison for the 1917 abortion death of 29-year-old Ellen.
31. Lillian McCullough. In 1926, Dr. James P. A. Nolan was arrested for the criminal abortion death of 18-year-old Lillian McCullough.
32. Eunice McElroy. On November 14, 1928, 21-year-old Eunice died in Chicago from complications of a criminal abortion. Dr. Thomas J. Ney was indicted.
33. Faye McGinnis. On September 25, 1925, Faye, age 23, died at her home in Chicago from complications of an abortion performed that day. The coroner identified two physicians, Walter Penningdorf and Walter Voight, as being responsible.
34. Irene Michaelson. Dr. William H. Bricker Jr. was convicted for this Philadelphia woman's death in 1922.
35. Mary Moorehead. Mary, who died in 1926, was one of many victims of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz.
36. Lydia Nelson. In 1923, Lydia died at Chicago's Englewood Hospital from an abortion blamed on Dr. Charles Klinetop.
37. Elizabeth Palumbo. In 1929, 24-year-old Elizabeth died from a back alley abortion, evidently performed by Dr. Amante (or Amenti) Rongetti. A year later, he was implicated in the death of Loretta Enders.
38. Sophie Peterson. In 1926, 34-year-old Sophie Peterson died from an illegal abortion performed in the Chicago office of Dr. Frederick Springe.
39. Beulah Pickerill. On August 13, 1922, 21-year-old Beulah died at Chicago's Mid West Hospital from complications of a criminal abortion performed there that day. Two physicians, Vincent Filletti and Michale Galgano, were blamed for her death.
40. Nina Pierce. Nina, who died in 1925, was one of many women who died at the hands of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz, in Chicago.
41. Daisy Singerland. In 1923, Daisy died at Chicago's Robert Burns Hospital from complications of a back alley abortion performed earlier that day.
42. Dorothy Schultz. Dorothy Schultz, 19 years of age, became pregnant in June of 1929. On June 15 or 16, Dorothy's mother brought her to Dr. W. B. Parke in Camp Douglas to arrange an abortion. He examined her and agreed to do an abortion for $150.
43. Arhne Reynolds. On the morning of April 5, 1927, Arhne died at the office of Dr. Louis Ginsburg from an abortion performed on her there that day.
    
44. Anna Mae Smith. In 1928, 20-year-old Anna Mae Smith underwent a fatal abortion at the Chicago office of Dr. George F. Slater. Slater, upon learning of Anna Mae's death, committed suicide at his home by taking poison.
45. Catherine Stange. Denver city councilman Dr. Daniel R. Lucy was charged with murder in the 1922 abortion death of Catherine Stange.
46. Mary Strugnall. Mary Strugnall, age 17, died January 2, 1929 from an abortion performed that day by Dr. Joseph A. Harter.
47. Iva Triplett. On March 1, 1921, Dr. C.W. Milliken performed an abortion on Iva J. Triplett.
48. Lucille van Iderstine. On November 30, 1927, 22-year-old Lucille died in the Chicago office of Dr. Emil Gleitsman, from an abortion that had been performed on her that day.
    
49. Esther V. Wahlstrom. On December 1, 1928, 23-year-old Esther died in Chicago from complications of a criminal abortion. Dr. Lou E. Davis was held by the coroner for murder.
50. Dr. Davis was implicated in the deaths of Anna Borndal and Mary Whitney.
51. Willie Pearl Walker. In, 1926, Willie, an 18-year-old Black girl, died at her Chicago home from complications of a criminal abortion performed that day. A white doctor, Thomas J. New, was identified as responsible.
52.  Ruth Weir. On February 16, 1929, Mrs. Ruth Weir, of East Orange, New Jersey, died at Orange Memorial Hospital of sepsis contracted through a criminal abortion. Dr. Maurice Sturm was arrested when Ruth implicated him in a deathbed statement.
53. Elizabeth Welter. Elizabeth, who died in 1925, was one of many women who died at the hands of Dr. Lucy Hagenow, aka Louise Hagenow aka Ida von Schultz, in Chicago. .
54. Agnes Wendt. In 1923, Agnes died in a Chicago hospital from an abortion performed there that day.
55. Mary Whitney. On May 18, 1924, 26-year-old Mary Whitney died at St. Mary's Hospital of complications of an abortion performed at the Chicago office of Dr. Lou E. Davis in April. Dr. Davis was implicated in the death of Anna Borndal and Esther Wahlstrom a few years later.

1930-1939

1. Alberta Beard. On March 14, 1930, Alberta, age 29, died at the office of Dr. Davis Lucas from an abortion performed there that day.
2. Marie Epperson. The total number of deaths attributed to Oklahoma abortion doctors Thacker and Elsiminger was eight. Marie Epperson died in 1930. Other victims included Isobel Ferguson, Ruth Hall, Virginia Lee Wyckoff, Mrs. F.S. Roach, Mrs. Frank Lee, and Robbie Lou Thompson.
3. Ethel Crowell. Ethel, age 20, died on April 14, 1930, in the office of Dr. Hans Paulsen, from an abortion performed on her that day.
4. Matilda Kleinschmidt. In 1930, 20-year-old Matilda died from a criminal abortion, which might have been performed in the office of Dr. J. Murney Nicholson. 
5. Evelyn Dellorto. In 1930, Evelyn, age 20, died from an illegal abortion believed to have been performed at the office of Dr. Frank Psota.
6. Isobel Ferguson. On April 14, 1932, Mrs. Isobel F. Ferguson died of suspected abortion complications. Two physicians in the University of Oklahoma area, J. W. Elsiminger and Richard E. Thacker, were suspected in the case. Other victims included Marie Epperson, Ruth Hall, Virginia Lee Wyckoff, Mrs. F.S. Roach, Mrs. Frank Lee, and Robbie Lou Thompson.  
7. Virginia Wyckoff. J.W. Elsiminger was an osteopath in Oklahoma City. He alone was the suspect in the abortion death of Virginia Lee Wyckoff, a 21-year-old student at the University of Oklahmoa. Virginia died April 24, 1932.
8. Mrs. Frank Lee. On April 25, 1932, a young woman died of abortion complications -- 17-year-old Mrs. Frank Lee, a University of Oklahoma co-ed. Richard E. Thacker, a surgeon, was charged with the death.
9. Ruth Hall. April 15, 1932, Ruth Hall died of suspected abortion complications. Oklahoma City abortion doctors Elsiminger and Thacker were suspects.
10. Annette Camorato. In May of 1934, 19-year-old actress Annette Camorato, stage name Toni Morgan, died of abortion complications. Dr. Harry A. Felice was charged with homicide in Annette's death.
11. Loretta Wilson. On Christmas day of 1934, the nude body of a young woman was found in a thicket near a highway south of New York City. She was identified as 19-year-old Loretta Wilson. Dr. John H. Becker Jr., who admitted to having examined Loretta on December 17, was charged with homicide in the death.
12. Edith Eschrich. On December 31, 1935, criminal abortion charges were dropped against Dr. Tobias Ginsberg, and his nurse, because of insufficient evidence. The two were suspects in the death of 24-year-old Mrs. Edith Eschrich.
13. Doris Jones. Small-town doctor and philanthropist Guy Brewer was fingered in the 1935 abortion death of this 30-year old wife of a grocery clerk.
14. Rose Lipner. Rose died at Riverdale (maternity) Hospital on January 29, 1936. Dr. Maxwell C. Katz, who both operated and lived at Riverdale, signed a death certificate. After the funeral, an anonymous caller notified the police that Rose's death was suspicious.
15. Katherine DiDonato. On October 16, 1936, 26-year-old Katherine DiDonato, mother of two, was admitted to Roosevelt Hospital to be treated for complications of a criminal abortion. Detectives were told that Katherine had bought pills from drug clerk Hyman Kantor, who had then recommended Dr. Aloysius Mulholland to perform an abortion.
16. Eleanor Haynes. Eleanor Haynes, age 22, died at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey on October 6, 1937, after indicating that Dr. P. Ralph McFeely had performed an abortion on her.
17. Doris Alexander. In 1938, 30-year-old Doris died from a criminal abortion in Oklahoma. John Dillinger's doctor was charged in her death.
18. Alice Corbett. On October 18, 1939, Miss Alice Corbett, age 28, of Brooklyn, New York, died from complications of an illegal abortion. Dr. Allen F. Murphy was sentenced to 2-10 years in Sing-Sing for Alice's death. 
19. Jeanette Reder. On December 1, 1930, 22-year-old Jeanette underwent a criminal abortion at the Chicago office of Dr. Emil Gleitsman. 
20. "Eudora" Roe. This 17-year-old girl lingered for nearly two months before finally dying of complications of an abortion performed in Wichita, Kansas in 1930.
    
21. Mrs. F.S. Roach. On April 24, 1932, Mrs. F. S. Roach died of suspected abortion complications. Oklahoma abortion doctors Elsiminger and Thacker were suspected in the case. Other victims included Isobel Ferguson, Ruth Hall, Virginia Lee Wyckoff, Marie Epperson, Mrs. Frank Lee, and Robbie Lou Thompson.
22. Jane Roe of '37. On December 23, 1941, Dr. Samuel Roth was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the illegal abortion death of a woman. Roth, whose license was suspended at the time, performed the abortion in his office on January 16, 1937.
23. Jane Roe of Newark. Dr. Charles I. Gordon pleaded guilty in the 1937 abortion death of a Newark woman.
24. "Nina" Roe. In February of 1933, a 22-year-old unmarried store clerk discovered that she was pregnant. On April 8, Nina went to a nursing home operated by a nurse to ask about an abortion. The nurse informed the woman and her lover that Dr. E. T. Martin or another doctor would be able to perform an abortion.
    
25. Robbie Lou Thompson. In 1932, Richard E. Thacker, a surgeon, was charged with murder in the abortion death of Robbie Lou Thompson. Other deaths attributed to Thacker included Isobel Ferguson, Ruth Hall, Virginia Lee Wyckoff, Mrs. F.S. Roach, Mrs. Frank Lee, and Marie Epperson. [Let's have a little hearsay!]

1940-1949: some antibiotics

1. Mary Ann Page. Dr. C. E. Trovillion was blamed for the 1940 death of 20-year-old Mary Ann Page of Alton, Illinois.
2. Harriet Lichtenberg. On October 18, 1942, 23-year-old Harriet Lichtenberg of Brooklyn died in Royal Hospital, the Bronx, from suspected criminal abortion complications. Dr. Henry Katz was indicted for first degree manslaughter in Harriet's death.
3. Cleo Moore. On March 28, 1942, 19-year-old Cleo Florence Moore died at New Rochelle Hospital in New York from peritonitis from an illegal abortion. Upon admission, Cleo told authorities that she had taken some pills to induce the abortion, but before her death she changed her story and said that Dr. Frank F. Marino had performed the fatal abortion.
4. Amelia Cardito. On February 14, 1944, Amelia Cardito, 34-year-old mother of 4, underwent an illegal abortion at the office of Dr. Anthony Renda.
5. Beatrice Fisher. In 1945, Beatrice died after an abortion performed in his office by Dr. Frank C. Hart in Seattle.
6. Jane Ward. On October 17, 1947, Dr. Paul Singer reported that he had taken 22-year-old Jane Ward, heir to the Drake Bakeries fortune, to Park East Hospital, to complete an illegal abortion somebody else had done. Jane died on October 28. Singer was convicted of manslaughter in Jane's death. [This only makes it harder for women to get treatment for complications of illegal abortions. Something like this is happening in Nicaragua, now.]
7. Madeline McGeehan. On November 18, 1942, 26-year-old Madeline McGeehan died at Prospect Hospital in New York after an illegal abortion. Arrested were Dr. Joseph Nisonoff; his nurse, Camille Ewald; his receptionist, Pearl Tense; and Dr. Max J. Weinstein, who was thought to have referred Madeline to Nisonoff.
8. Agnes Pearson. In late July of 1941, Mrs. Agnes Pearson of White Plains, New York died at Grasslands Hospital in New York of suspected complications from an abortion. Dr. Nathan Schwartz and Dr. Samuel Schwartz (not related) were charged with manslaughter in Agnes' death.
9. Doris Becker. On December 5, 1948, Dr. Cyril B. Babb pleaded guilty to performing a fatal abortion on Doris Becker the previous Wednesday in his office.
10. Roberta Danks. February 17, 1949. Roberta's abortionist battered and dumped her body to try to make it seem she'd been a hit-and-run victim.

1950-1959: after antibiotics

1. Joyce Chorney. Joyce Chorney, age 25, died Wednesday, November 18, 1953. Fifty-four-year-old Dr. Alfred Joseph was charged with criminal abortion in her death.
2. Gertrude Pinsky. Operating on a tip, police, accompanied by an ambulance, broke into a private home in the Bronx, on April 4, 1954. There they found Gertrude dead from septic poisoning from an illegal abortion. Police arrested Florence Cavalluzzo, a resident of the home, and Hugo Francese, an unlicensed physician.
3. Mary Davies. On Saturday, December 8, 1956, 26-year-old Mary Davies of New York City arrived in the Ashland, Pennsylvania office of abortionist Dr. Robert Douglas Spencer. She was seeking an abortion.

1960-1969 

1. Vivian Grant. On January 21, 1961, Dr. Mandel M. Friedman contacted a Queens undertaker, asking him to arrange burial for 23-year-old Vivian Grant of New York. Nearly a year later, Friedman was implicated in the death of Barbara Covington.
2. Jolene Griffith. On March 3, 1962, Dr. J. Bryan Henrie, an osteopath, performed an abortion on Jolene Joyce Griffith at his clinic in Grove, Oklahoma.
3. Barbara Covington. Dr. Mandel M. Friedman was charged with homicide in the September 11, 1962 death of Barbara C. Covington, age 35, a Florida socialite. Nearly a year earlier, he had been implicated in the death of Vivian Grant.
4. Barbara Lofrumento. Barbara, a 19-year-old college student, told her parents that she was pregnant in 1962. Mr. and Mrs. Lofrumento arranged for an abortion by Dr. Harvey Lothringer. 
5. "Sophia" Roe. Patricia G. Miller's book, The Worst of Times: Illegal Abortion: Survivors, Practitioners, Coroners, Cops and Children of Women Who Died Talk About Its Horrors, tells of an unnamed young woman I call "Sophia", who went to Pennsylvania to have a back alley abortion performed by Dr. Benjamin King in 1967. 
6. Nancy Ward. In February of 1968, Nancy Ward flew from Oklahoma to Kansas city with her boyfriend for an abortion Nancy's father had arranged. Nancy and her boyfriend visited Dr. Richard Mucie.
7. Catherine Barnard. Dr. Virgil Jobe of Oklahoma was charged in the 1969 abortion death of Catherine Barnard of Arvada, Colorado.

Look what happens when modern medicine improves and abortion becomes legal! The abortions trickle off in the 50s and 60s.

No year

1. Emma Post. Emma's seducer kept her in brothels while arranging the abortion that took her life.
2. Ruth Lemaire. Ruth implicated Dr. Lillian Hobbs in a deathbed statement.
3. Bessie Kouns. Bessie implicated Dr. H.C. Dorroh in her deathbed statement.
4. Elvira Woodward. Dr. Charles P. Wood admitted that Elvira Woodward had come to his house in Manchester, New Hampshire, on April 1 and remained there until her death on April 27. Wood was convicted of performing her fatal abortion.
5. Caroline Malinken. Caroline died of an abortion done in her home by a Dr. Joecken. 
6. Mary Sudik. On February 12, Mrs. Mary Sudik died of infection from an abortion performed two days earlier by Dr. A.B.C. Davis of Oklahoma City.
7. Georgia Marie McGill. . Dr. W. R. Mitchell, already a reputed abortionist, was fingered by Marie's father. [CHECK]
8. Gene Raligh. Sometime in the early part of the 20th century, physician and surgeon H. W. Coulter performed an abortion upon Gene Raligh, leading to her death from septicemia.
9. Mrs. George Swope. Dr. Smith was arrested, but insisted that Dr. Bottorf had performed the fatal abortion on this coal miner's wife.
10. Harriet Reece. Hattie hadn't wanted a baby to hinder her teaching career, so she sought an abortion from Dr. John Aiken over the protests of her husband.

Illegal abortions kill: Part 1

Illegal abortions kill people. That's why we need contraception, sex education, and legal abortions done early in a hospital with antibiotics and all emergency equipment at hand. Nevertheless, anti-choice groups have lovingly collected tales of the Danger of Abortions, in an attempt to compare oranges to apples.

These stories are about abortions done by nurses and paramedics or midwives--somewhat trained people who are not doctors. Some aren't even trained--we have here a police officer and a morgue attendant as well.

The deaths occurred between 1899 and 1977 but most were in the first half of the 20th Century--before antibiotics. None of them were done in sterile conditions in hospitals or clinics.

These stories are reminders of what it is like today in countries with little medical care for pregnant women.

Illegal Abortions Done by People with Training

Most illegal abortions were done by physicians. (See Illegal abortion kills, Part 2.) A distant but important second category of illegal abortionists was the paramedical person: somebody with training, and sometimes even equipment, medications, and physician backup. Here are some of the women who died at the hands of these practitioners, both before and after legalization.

• Annie Allison. On September 29, 1923, 44-year-old Annie Allison of Brooklyn died at the office of chiropractor Henry Lee Mottard, who practiced under the name of Dr. Henry L. Green.
• Louise Allman. On January 29, 1929, Louise, age 25, underwent an abortion at the home of Amelia K. Jaruez, a midwife.
• Martha Anderson. On May 5, 1939, 16-year-old Martha died from an abortion performed in a San Diego chiropractic clinic.
• Sarah Bonda. In 1900, Sarah died at her home as a result of a criminal abortion. A midwife arrested in connection with the abortion committed suicide when police came to arrest her.
• Mary Borglun. In 1900, Mary died in her home from complications of an abortion. Mary Kempfer, whose profession was nurse or midwife, was arrested that same day and held without bail by a Coroner's Jury.
• Martha Byzynski. On August 11, 1923, 26-year-old Martha died at Chicago's St. Mary's Hospital from an abortion performed that day. The coroner named Jane Worchowski, a nurse or midwife, as the person responsible.
• Naomi Congdon. Maternity nurse Lena Smith tried to blame this young wife's death on an ingrown toenail.
• Agnes Crowe. On February 16, 1925, 28-year-old Agnes died in Chicago's West Side Hospital from a criminal abortion performed that day. A midwife was implicated.
• Ilene Eagen. On March 21, 1947, Ilene was brought to Mankato, Minnesota, to the dental office of W. A. Groebner for an abortion.
• Anna Fazio. Anna Fazio, age 20, underwent an illegal abortion performed about February 2, 1929, at the Chicago home of midwife Marie Zwienczak.
• Margie Fraser. Margie was 18 when she died at the hands of surgical nurse Gertrude Pitkanen in Butte, Montana.
• Sophia Hartozinski. On December 18, 1923, Sophia died at Chicago's County Hospital due to a criminal abortion performed there that day. The coroner identified midwife Mary Roback as having been responsible.
• Angerita Hargarten. On February 20, 1927, 23-year-old Angerita died in her home from an abortion performed there that day. Midwives Anna Trezek and Frances Raz were held by the coroner.
• Sophia Herman. In late 1903, Sophia was taken to Norwegian Hospital. She died from an abortion. Midwife Harla Faustman was arrested.
• Lillian Hulbert. On October 25, 1922, Lillian died at Chicago's St. Anne's Hospital from complications of a criminal abortion performed on her there that day. The coroner identified a Mrs. M.C. Anderson as responsible.
• Louise Huse. On June 12, 1922, Mrs. Louise Huse, age 30, died at Chicago's Mid West Hospital from a criminal abortion performed there that day and blamed on midwife Agnes Tholl.
• Grace Iorio. On June 7, 1930, 27-year-old Grace died from an illegal abortion performed in the Chicago home of midwife Stepina Pazkiewicz.
• Rosie Jimenez. On September 26, 1977, 27-year-old Rosie Jimenez showed up at the emergency room of McAllen General Hospital in the Texas border town of McAllen, with septic shock. Rosie's cousin had brought her to a lay midwife in McAllen, who charged $120 to insert a catheter into Rosie's uterus.
• Hilja Johnson. This 37-year-old woman died from complications of an abortion attributed to surgical nurse Gertrude Pitkanen.
• Joyce Johnson. Joyce met Harvey Karman in a motel room on April 6, 1955. Karman, using a speculum, inserted a nutcracker into Joyce in order to perform an abortion. I count this as a paramedical abortion rather than an amateur because Harvey was accepted as a doctor among other abortionists, to the point where he was even invited to work in an abortion hospital, training other abortionists.
• Mrs. Andre Jorgenson. 1900, Mrs. Jorgenson died on the scene from an illegal abortion. Anna Pihlgren, whose occupation is listed as nurse or midwife, was arrested and held by the Coroner's Jury.
• Mary Kakacek. On September 23, 1899, Mary died in her Chicago home from complications of an abortion performed that day by midwife Annie Stonek.
• Anna Kick. On November 20, 1925, 29-year-old Anna Kick died in Chicago's Washington Park Hospital from an abortion performed that day at an undisclosed location.
• Alice Kimberly. On February 10, 1957, veterinarian Ira Ledbetter performed an abortion on Alice Kimberly.
• Helen Koss. In 1923, Helen Koss underwent an illegal abortion somewhere in Chicago. On January 6, 1924, she died at Norwegian American Hospital of complications. Midwife Emma Morch was arrested.
• Martha Kohnke. On September 24, 1927, 35-year-old Martha died in Chicago from a criminal abortion performed that day. Nurse Emma Schultz was held by the coroner.
• Jennie Kuba. On June 20, 1929, 28-year-old Jennie died at Chicago hospital from an abortion performed there that day by midwife Mary Zwieniczak.
• Stefania Kwit. On April 3, 1928, 30-year-old Stafania died from complications of a criminal abortion performed that day by midwife Pauline Majerczyk.
• Betty Ladel. Sylvia Redman, who had a license to practice naturopathy, signed a written confession on October 20, 1954 regarding the death of Betty Ladel.
• Asunta La Rosa. On May 5, 1938, Mrs. Genevieve Horton, a practical nurse, pleaded guilty in an abortion case in Westchester County, New York. After being released, Horton performed an abortion on 29-year-old Mrs. Asunta La Rosa.
• Emily LeBinney. Emily's cousin arranged for a midwife to do her abortion. When her baby was born alive, it was tossed in the river.
• Louise Maday. On March 27, 1926, 24-year-old Louise died at Chicago's West End Hospital from complications of an abortion performed that day. Midwife Amelia Becker was held by the coroner.
• Jennie Mallard. On January 16, 1901, Jennie Mallard died at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Chicago from an abortion performed there that day by Margaret Simmons, a nurse or midwife.
• Veronica Maslanka. On June 19, 1922, 26-year-old Veronica died in her Chicago home from complications of an abortion performed there that day. The coroner identified midwife Mary Pesova as the person responsible.
• Catherine Mau. In 1929, 30-year-old Catherine died from an abortion at the hands of Chicago midwife Anna Heisler.
• Violet Morse. This 23-year-old teacher died from complications of an abortion attributed to surgical nurse Gertrude Pitkanen.
• Emily Mueller. In 1926, fifteen-year-old Emily died from a criminal abortion performed somewhere in Chicago. Midwife Magdelane Stegeman, alias Motzny, was identified as the perpetrator.
• Emily Nohavec. Emma Bickel, a 59-year-old midwife, was charged with second-degree manslaugher in the death of 19-year-old Emily Nohavec in 1913.
• Mary Paradowski. In 1926, 23-year-old Mary died in Chicago from a criminal abortion attributed to midwife Josephine Petrova.
• "Chloe" Roe. Dentist Milton Grissom not only performed the fatal abortion on this young woman, but he also took her ring.
• "Rosa" Roe. The CDC's 1976 Abortion Surveillance Summary presents the case of a woman I'll call "Rosa." Rosa was married, 29 years old, with two living children. According to her family, she had previously undergone an illegal abortion in Mexico in 1968.
• Mary Sayers. On May 1, 1925, 26-year-old Mary died at a Chicago residence from a criminal abortion performed on her that day. Midwife Edna Marie Dietrich was arrested.
• Gladys Schaffer. On February 17, 1929, 23-year-old Gladys died after from a criminal abortion performed in Chicago. She died on the spot, in the home of midwife Emma Schulz.
• Rita Shea. Queens patrolman Howard Bailey, morgue attendant Victor Genz, and a Texas medical student, Benjamin Lockhart, were arrested in the December 4, 1965 abortion death of Rita Shea.
• Ozelia Skains. Azelia's death was blamed on chiropractor John Gobischel.
• Jacqueline Smith. In December of 1955, Jackie Smith's boyfriend arranged for a scrub nurse, Leobaldo Pejuan, to perform an abortion at Daniels' apartment on Christmas Eve. After performing the abortion, Pejuan became alarmed at Jackie's condition, and summoned Dr. Ramiro Morales, who told him that Jackie was dead.
• Lucille Smith. On March 6, 1928, Lucille, a 23-year-old store clerk, died at Chicago's Burrows Hospital from complications of an abortion performed that day at the office of midwife Emma Schulz.
• Mrs. Morris Swanson. On July 11, 1904, Mrs. Swanson died at her home from an abortion performed there that day. Midwife Constance Marie Anderson was arrested.
• Katarzyna Tobiasz. On August 29, 1925, Katarzyna died at Chicago's St. Mary's Hospital from an abortion performed on her there that day. A woman identified as a nurse or midwife was arrested.
• Merl Williams. Midwife Cordelia Moore was blamed for the 1937 abortion death of Merl Williams of Watonga, Oklahoma.

Life and Liberty for Women: Letter to South Dakota Governor

Life & Liberty for women has some good points to make in an open letter to the Governor of South Dakota, Mike Rounds.

Most important: banning abortion doesn't stop abortions. It just makes them more dangerous. Women will die.

The Preventable Pandemic

The Lancet said it in 2006: "Unsafe Abortion: the Preventable Pandemic."

Legalisation of abortion on request is a necessary but insufficient step toward improving women's health

and

Direct costs of treating abortion complications [from unsafe abortions] burden impoverished health care systems and indirect costs also drain struggling economies.

and

Access to safe, legal abortion is a fundamental right of women, irrespective of where they live.

and

The underlying causes of morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortion today are not blood loss and infection but, rather, apathy and disdain toward women.

—The Lancet. 2006 Nov 25;368(9550):1908-19.

Abortion factoid

The eMedicine Health article on abortion says that 13% of women's deaths worldwide are caused by illegal abortion.

Unfortunately, I don't know where that number came from. I do know that whole hospital wards were closed when abortion became legal, because there wasn't the steady stream of severely ill, sometimes dying, women with septic shock, internal bleeding, and other charming side effects of illegal abortion.

Abortion ban threatens lives of girls and women

Nicaragua has come down with a complete ban on abortion, which prevents women and girls from getting obstetrical treatments that they need.

Nicaragua’s total ban on abortions is endangering the lives of girls and women, denying them life-saving treatment, preventing health professionals from practising effective medicine and contributing to an increase in maternal deaths across the country, concludes Amnesty International in a new report issues on Monday.

According to official figures, 33 girls and women have died in pregnancy this year as compared to 20 in the same period last year. Amnesty International believes these figures are only a minimum as the government itself has acknowledged that the number of maternal deaths is under-recorded.

South Africa makes abortion progress

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: Deaths from back street abortions have dropped by 91% in the decade since South Africa became one of the few African countries to legalize abortion, health care workers said.

Speaking on International Women’s Day at a conference, Elizabeth Maguire, president of Ipas, an U.S.-based reproductive rights organization, hailed the progress South Africa has made in making safe abortions accessible to more women. But health care workers said abortion still carried a stigma, and an anti-abortion group said the anniversary was no cause for celebration.

“South Africa stands as a great success story and clearly leads the region in advancing women’s reproductive health and rights,” she said Thursday.

South African legislation, passed in 1996, allows unrestricted abortions until the 12th week of pregnancy. Nearly 530,000 women had abortions between 1997 and 2006, according to figures provided by Ipas South Africa with 11 percent being provided to girls under 18 years old.

The risk of death from unsafe abortions is higher in Africa than in any other region with about 4.2 million unsafe operations being performed and 30,000 related deaths a year, said Maguire.

“The greatest tragedy is that the deaths and injuries from unsafe abortions are largely preventable. This has been shown very dramatically in South Africa,” she said.

Maguire said a number of African countries are introducing abortion law reform. Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Swaziland and Togo have enacted additional conditions under which abortion is legal. Mozambique is also considering liberalizing its abortion laws, she said.

Canada does not need an abortion law

Abortion is adequately covered, along with other medical practices, by the Canada Health Act. Joyce Arthur points out that "Canada Does Not Need a New Abortion Law."

Canada’s previous abortion law was thrown out as unconstitutional in 1988 by our Supreme Court.
...laws have never stopped abortions, or even reduced them. A recent study by the World Health Organization found that overall abortion rates in the world are similar, regardless of whether abortion is illegal in a country or not. In other words, restrictive abortion laws are not associated with a low abortion rate. In fact, in countries where abortion is widely available – including Canada – there has typically been a decline in abortion rates over time, especially when contraception use rises.

Canada’s abortion rate is low compared to other countries in the world, and has been decreasing steadily since 1999. The most recent Statistics Canada report (for 2005) noted that out of 1,000 women of childbearing age, 14.1 have an abortion each year. That compares favourably to western Europe’s rate of 12, the lowest abortion rate in the world. In contrast, the American rate is 20, and U.S. women must navigate through a thicket of abortion restrictions. (The global average rate is 29 per 1,000 women, with the highest number of abortions occuring in countries where it's illegal, and in countries with poor access to contraception.)

It’s ironic that abortion laws are motivated by a desire to limit abortions, yet one of the best ways to reduce abortion is to liberalize or repeal anti-abortion laws. That’s not the only factor of course. The real key is to promote women’s rights, with particular attention to their reproductive rights. Most countries in western Europe enjoy a more pragmatic attitude towards sexuality and contraception, and strong support for women’s equality. Also, most abortions occur because women can’t afford to have a child, so governments can significantly reduce abortion numbers by building a more stable, prosperous society and making child-rearing economically feasible. There is no need for societies to defend fetal interests directly, as the best way to protect fetuses is to provide resources directly to pregnant women. When a pregnant woman is safe and healthy, so is her fetus.

Controversial doctor faced a lifetime of persecution

Sandra Martin has written an article giving the biography of Dr. Henry Morgentaler, Canada's champion of abortion rights for women: "Controversial abortion doctor faced a lifetime of persecution".

Dr. Morgentaler went ahead with his plans to open a Toronto clinic on Harbord Street in June 15, 1983. It was raided in July by police who seized some equipment and charged Dr. Morgentaler and two colleagues, Dr. Robert Scott and Dr. Leslie Smoling, with procuring illegal miscarriages. On Nov. 8, 1984, an Ontario jury, following its Quebec predecessors, acquitted him and his two associates.

Lawyer Alan Cooper, then a Crown counsel, said later that he never expected to win the case. “I knew 90 per cent of Canada was against me,” he told The Globe. “Dr. Morgentaler was like a national hero. Even devout Catholics were coming up to me during the trial and saying: ‘How can you prosecute him?' Even my parents said that to me once.”

Dr. Morgentaler was jubilant, but his victory was short-lived. Attorney-general Roy McMurtry announced that the verdict would be appealed, but that no new prosecutions would be initiated. However, a second charge was laid on Dec. 20, 10 days after the clinic reopened. Dr. Morgentaler described it as “legal anarchy” and, on Jan. 7, was back in business, personally performing abortions at his Toronto clinic, while anti-abortionists picketed outside.

The jury verdict was subsequently reversed by the Ontario Court of Appeal in October, 1985. The case was referred to the Supreme Court of Canada, which ruled in 1988 that the abortion law under which Dr. Morgentaler had been convicted contravened Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Forcing women to endure potentially life-threatening delays violated their charter guarantee of life, liberty and security of the person.

The ruling put an end to the old system under which legal abortions could only be performed in the health system after a patient had successfully petitioned a hospital-based committee of three doctors. The Supreme Court found that this cumbersome process was arbitrary, demeaning and potentially injurious to women.

Twenty years of legal abortion

In January, 2008, Canada's laws restricting abortion were struck down. Abortion became a matter between a woman and her doctor, constrained only by the Canada Health Act. That doesn't mean that women can get an abortion at any time; while it's not illegal, doctors will not do a late abortion except for sound medical reasons. In fact, it can be hard to get an abortion after ten weeks, which is really eight weeks, since official pregnancy starts on the first day of the last period. So by the time a woman realizes she's pregnant, it is getting a little late for her to arrange for an abortion.

Civilization did not fall. Abortion became safer because with fewer hoops to jump through, it's on the average earlier. One notable statistic is that the crime rate took a sudden dip a few years ago. That's not surprising. One of the rare controlled studies showed that women who wanted abortions and didn't get them raised children who were more likely to turn to crime.

Here's the story: "Both sides of the debate mark 20 years of legal abortion."

On Jan. 28, 1988, Chief Justice Brian Dickson ruled that a Canadian law severely restricting access to medical abortions was unconstitutional because it violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms....

Louise Harbour, who is a member of the anti-abortion group Action Life Ottawa, said people's perspective on unplanned pregnancy has changed in the years since the law was struck down.

"It's as if it's almost expected that …you will choose an abortion if you find yourself pregnant," she said.

[One student], a member of Canadian Youth for Choice, said abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion groups do share some common ground, and the next step in the ongoing debate over abortion rights is for the two sides to work together.

When the two sides meet, she said, they both talk about preventing unintended pregnancies.

"And so what can we do to work together in order to prevent it?" she said. "Really, at the end of the day, we want women to be making healthy choices for themselves and however they define that."

Bad old days

This newspaper article describes the "bad old days" when a woman's choices were sneaking away to have a baby or trying to survive an illegal abortion.

The preventable pandemic

Unsafe abortion: the preventable panemic (PDF) is a pre-print copy of a paper published in The Lancet in October 2006, by David A. Grimes, Janie Benson, Susheela Singh, Mariana Romero, Bela Ganatra, Friday E Okonofua, Iqbal H Shah. It is part of The Lancet Sexual and Reproductive Health Series.

Ending the silent pandemic of unsafe abortion is an urgent public-health and human-rights imperative. As with other more visible global-health issues, this scourge threatens women throughout the developing world. Every year, about 19–20 million abortions are done by individuals without the requisite skills, or in environments below minimum medical standards, or both. Nearly all unsafe abortions (97%) are in developing countries. An estimated 68 000 women die as a result, and millions more have complications, many permanent. Important causes of death include haemorrhage, infection, and poisoning. Legalisation of abortion on request is a necessary but insufficient step toward improving women’s health; in some countries, such as India, where abortion has been legal for decades, access to competent care remains restricted because of other barriers. Access to safe abortion improves women’s health, and vice versa, as documented in Romania during the regime of President Nicolae Ceausescu. The availability of modern contraception can reduce but never eliminate the need for abortion. Direct costs of treating abortion complications burden impoverished health care systems, and indirect costs also drain struggling economies. The development of manual vacuum aspiration to empty the uterus, and the use of misoprostol, an oxytocic agent, have improved the care of women. Access to safe, legal abortion is a fundamental right of women, irrespective of where they live. The underlying causes of morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortion today are not blood loss and infection but, rather, apathy and disdain toward women.

Consequences of making abortion illegal

In Daily Kos, William F. Harrison tells "Why I provide abortions."

I provide abortions for my patients and for any other girl or woman who feels this her best option...

"I learned [to be pro-choice]... by seeing the repercussions of desperation walk, and crawl, and be carried through our emergency room door three, four, five times, every night for four years. Each night we would admit to the wards of University Hospital in Little Rock (a fairly small hospital, as metropolitan hospitals go) girls and women with raging fevers, extraordinary uterine and pelvic infections, enormous blood loss, and a multitude of serious injuries of the pelvic and intra-abdominal organs as a result of illegal and self-induced abortions."

"What if your mother was pro-choice? Snappy answers

More from Alas, a Blog: "What if your mother was pro-choice?"

Kai writes:

I know my mother was pro-choice. She had an abortion at age 16, gave up her next child for adoption at age 19, and then had me at age 21.

She also took me to the doctor for my safe, legal abortion when I was 16.

Courtney writes:

It’s weird because I am here because of abortion. My mother got pregnant by my biological father (whom I never met) and had an abortion under pressure. Then a couple of months later she got pregnant with me and refused to have another abortion. She’s been pro-life ever since. It is weird to think that I wouldn’t be here if abortion had been illegal and the question of, “What if your mother had an abortion?” never takes into account that some of us are here because of it.

Alsis writes:

“Your mother was pro-life”. I guess that’s the selected slogan because “We Claim Your Body In The Name of Jesus And Your Mom’s Is Ours Retroactively, Too” would be a tad too long-winded. Ah, well. The short version is quite repugnant enough in its tone, thankyouverymuch.

Dianne adds:

And I suppose “All your uterus are belonging to us” just didn’t have the right ring to it.

Odanu writes:

My pro-choice mother conceived me as the indirect result of having an abortion. She had two healthy sons and was eagerly trying to get pregnant again. She succeeded, and several weeks later contracted Rubella (German measles). Given the level of medical knowledge at that time (mid 1960s) it was presumed that the child would almost certainly be born profoundly disabled. After consulting with her doctor, her preacher, her husband, and her mother, she made the decision (legal in Vermont at that time) to have an abortion. Three months later, I was conceived (against doctor’s orders, I might add — she’d been instructed to wait six months before trying again).

If my pro-choice mother had not chosen to have an abortion, I would not have been born. Makes my stance on abortion almost predestined.

Astrea writes:

It amazes me how some Christian anti-choicers can simultaneously believe that god controls everything and has a grand plan for everyone and that a choice by an individual woman in a brief moment in time could screw it all up by denying one potential person an existance.

Grace writes

Another Hitler baby here!! Three of my four grandparents were engaged to other people when WWII started. My American grandfather married my Dutch grandmother in a DP camp.

Kyra writes:

My response is “I don’t know if she was or not. However, I am tremendously thankful that my existance is not due to my mother’s enslavement by the pro-life agenda!”

In actuality, I exist partially because my mother’s doctor found her choice to be worth upholding. She had endometriosis, and when they removed the offending tissue he went out of his way to see that she could still have a chance at becoming pregnant, because this was important to her.

dorktastic writes:

This was always my favourite when I was a volunteer clinic escort. My response was always that both my parents are pro-choice, and both were involved in the struggle to decriminalize abortion in Canada. And it wasn’t just my parents - when my grandmother died, I was given her buttons and t-shirts from when she was a pro-choice activist.

Josh Jasper writes:

My mother is pro-choice. She nearly died during the course of an ectopic pregnancy, and is sterile because it wasn’t aborted sooner.

Before that, when she was pregnant with me, she sued the state of NY for the right to teach while more than 3 months pregnant. And won.

My mother is my inspiration as a feminist. She rocks!

Mythago adds:

Q: What if your mother had been pro-choice?
A: I’d have been killed in a state of total innocence, and I’d be in heaven with God and the angels right now.

Lee writes:

I was discussing this post with my mother this past weekend, and discovered to my surprise that she is far more pro-choice than I am.

More heartrending stories of abortion

Where were we - ah yes: Alas, a Blog: "What if your mother was pro-choice?". Most of the respondents said, what if she were? She is! or So what? I would never notice! Others answered in more detail.

Anonymous writes:

By the same logic, we could ask people who was born out of wedlock, “What if your father had used a condom?” Or for Catholics, “What if you parents had waited until marriage?” Or even, “What if your mother hadn’t been raped?” Certain past actions might seem to have turned out well in hindsight, but they don’t necessarily make for good policy in general.

Mary writes:

My mother didn’t want to have kids but my dad got her pregnant and she didn’t want to have the baby but my dad was Catholic and eventually she learned to get into the baby but my dad only became more abusive.

What if my mom was pro-choice? Would I be at peace now?

silverside writes:

My mother, a red-state moderate Republican, is probably even more pro-choice than I am, a raving pinko loony. That’s because I am prone to all kinds of moral nuances, and my mother can’t stand that crap. Bottom line: she used to work in the emergency room of a midwestern city back in the 1950s, so she knows what all these young women coming through there looked like. Those of us under 50 or so believe in the right to choose for all kinds of high-minded reasons related to personal liberty and such. My mother believes in the right to choose because she still has a visceral memory of sliced up cervixes in a pool of blood.

With South Dakota looming, I thinking our historical amnesia is just about complete. I fear it will take a generation of seeing spilled blood and guts and thousands of butchered young women before the public will suddenly “get” that the alternative to legal abortion isn’t “pro-life” but lots of dead woman and dead babies.

imfunnytoo writes:

I believe that had my mother had both a. access to safe legal abortion and b. lived in a culture that did not demonize those who have abortions almost as much as those “not-so-nice girls” who got pregnant and “had to get married” she would have terminated the pregnancy that resulted in my existence.

My mother found herself in that situation, and chose not only to have me, but chose not to take precautions because there was a family history of high risk pregnancy.

She had me prematurely. I’m here. I’ve had cerebral palsy since birth.

I of course, find myself “on the fence” about abortion.

If I hear of another wealthy white couple that chose abortion rather than having a disabled child …in other words the reason to abort was soley based on a disabling condition diagnosed in the fetus…I’ll be honest. I get well and truly pissed off. I see that as confirming the societal stereotype of “better dead [read never existing] than disabled.”

But, I firmly believe the choice has to be there. Even for the reasons that piss me off.

Because no one gets to dictate when someone *must* produce a child. Period.

jenofiniquity writes:

This post has a lot of resonance for me. It’s common knowledge within my family that my mother (who is an Evangelical xtian, by the way), almost had an abortion with her third pregnancy, which turned out to be my little brother. We were living in a foreign country, her birth control failed and her doctor had already told her, after her second, that another pregnancy would seriously endanger her health — if not her life. She’s always said that she would have had no qualms about having an abortion; she couldn’t see leaving two very young children and her husband for the sake of an as-yet unformed third. As it happened, she didn’t get sick as she had feared and went ahead with the pregnancy, and she’s still pro-choice contra her church’s position on abortion.

larkspur writes:

I admit I feel grief for children who weren’t born - specifically, the children a friend of mine never had. She’s a little older than me. She was supporting herself and putting herself through college when she became pregnant. She wanted to finish school before starting a family. But abortion was illegal then. Illegal but not uncommon. She went to a well-meaning abortionist (not a horrible predator like you read about), but a week later she ended up in the emergency room. The abortion had been incomplete, so she had an emergency D&C and treatment for an infection.

And yeah, ten years later she had medical confirmation that she’d never be able to conceive again because of scarring. She had looked forward to having a family, with two or three children. A mean person could look at it as being proper punishment. A totally weird person could speculate about how one of her children might have grown up to discover an AIDS vaccine. I just think it’s sad, and I wish so much that things had turned out differently. By now, I guess, I might be sending baby gifts to her brand new grandbabies. But that’s material for an alternate universe.

Woman writes:

My Mum was pressured into having children by my Dad. She never wanted any. While growing up my brother and I were very much aware of that. My Dad f*cked off, as all good Daddies do, and left us all to it. I got pregnant by accident when I had just turned 21. While I had no problem with abortion in general, I didn’t feel it was right without a damn good reason, so I kept the child. The Dad left us, and now I’m alone on benefits raising my autistic son. I don’t enjoy being a mother. As much as I love my son - and I do, dearly - I feel, just as my mother did, that my life has very much taken a turn for the worse as a result of having a child. I now avoid relationships with men out of fear of pregnancy. It breaks my heart because there’s a man out there who I love but can’t be with. Supposing I did get pregnant again somehow, I would be heading straight for an abortion. I for one am deeply grateful such a procedure exists and that I’m lucky enough to have that choice.

FurryCatHerder writes:

...my kid brother is a miracle baby, conceived before any kind of birth control was available. Mom had some health problem (which turned up while pregnant with me) which made additional children a life-threatening proposition. As the story goes, she was extremely ill with him, after having only been very ill with me.

Later, a woman I was with (no details because of privacy concerns …) nearly died from a pregnancy that her doctor refused to terminate because he was “pro-life”. But apparently not her life. She had to go to an abortion clinic (not that anything is wrong with that) because the hospital where she should have had the abortion wouldn’t do it because hte doctor didn’t think it was needed. And then she nearly died (she coded on the table) having the abortion because her health had deteriorated so badly.

So, I’m pro-choice, pro-contraception, pro-lots-of-good-stuff.

As others have pointed out, many things come together to make “me” or “you” be who we are. Even if my mother hadn’t had an abortion — or hadn’t miscarried or died — would I still be “me” if she’d not become ill the year after my kid brother was born? Or if she’d died from that illness? I’d obviously be in this body, but would my personality — which I think is more “me” than my skin and bones — be the same? How much has growing up knowing the health problems she had (I remember when she was bedridden for over a year — it greatly affected me) made me “me”? How much might my growing up knowing I was an unwanted child she was forced to have affect “me” if that had been the case instead? And that, I think, is a fair question to ask abortion opponents.

Sheelzebub writes:

I’m sick of the adoption option trotted out like it’s just that easy. Especially for a raped woman. The last thing I’d want to endure after a rape is ten months (forty weeks, do the math) of pregnancy, with all of its risks and complications. And while adoption is a good option for some women, it is hardly something we should push on women. I’ve known women who had to put their babies up for adoption (long story) and it tore them apart. Funny how we don’t hear about “post adoption syndrome.”

If it’s not your body, it’s not your choice.

Dianne writes:

Sheelzebub said

Funny how we don’t hear about “post adoption syndrome.”

Yes, you do, but in the medical literature, not the popular literature. [links]

Studies on adoption show that, basically, adoption leaves the relinquishing mother with lifelong depression and regret. Essentially, giving a baby up for adoption is highly likely to send the relinquishing mother into a lifelong hell of regret and grief. Grief from abortion, by contrast, is less frequent and resolves much more quickly. If a woman who is pregnant understands the risks she is taking by chosing to have the child and give it up for adoption because she hopes to give some other woman or couple joy, great, wonderful for her. But telling a woman that adoption is a safe or easy alternative is criminal. It is neither.

Delany writes:

Odanu - my grandmother also got rubella while pregnant and didn’t live in a state where abortion was legal - so she was forced to continue the prenancy for 4 more months, until the baby was stillborn. Between her, and my other grandmother, who watched her own mother die on the kitchen floor after hemorraghing after having baby #10, all of the women in my family are extremely prochoice and support easy access to birth control.

Fredelle Bruser Maynard on abortion

In her book, The Tree of Life, Fredelle Bruser Manyard tells of one incident from her time in New England in the mid-1970s. She speaks of a former student who had married and become an outstanding teacher (Mrs Crillis):

"Of her death I know only what I have read. On that last night, a local physican enlisted by the university's radical group telephoned two different hospitals. Would they admit a woman who had had a "miscarriage" and was haemorrhaging badly? The answer both times was No. It seems that hospitals... have to be very careful. So Mary Ellen was dispatched by ambulance to a hospital sixty miles away. State troopers questioned her as she lay bleeding to death. Who did it? and — how thorough the law is — Who was the father?

A very small funeral was held in a very large new church.... I thought the pallbearers... must all be boys from the high school. But someone told me, later, one was Mary Ellen's husband."

—from the chapter "The Death of Mary Ellen Cann"

End the pandemic of unsafe abortion

This week, Britain's medical journal The Lancet published a study of the worldwide effects of unsafe abortion. And by unsafe abortion, we mean unsafe for women, the only living, breathing individuals on the operating table, floor, sidewalk, or patch of ground.

By definition, unsafe abortions are those "done by individuals without the requisite skills, or in an environment below medical standards." Approximately 19-20 million such abortions occur annually, almost all in developing countries.

The authors write:

Worldwide, approximately eight women die every hour because of complications of unsafe abortion. In an article published this week by The Lancet exploring causes and consequences of unsafe abortion, the authors write that "ending the silent pandemic of unsafe abortion is an urgent public-health and human-rights imperative."[1]

Titled "Unsafe abortion: The preventable pandemic," the article is authored by David A. Grimes, MD, of the University of North Carolina Medical School; Janie Benson, DrPH, and Bela Ganatra, MD, both of Ipas; and other noted experts in obstetrics-gynecology or international public health. It is featured in a special series of articles on sexual and reproductive health released online in November. The Lancet held a press briefing this morning in London, chaired by Editor Richard Horton, to launch the landmark series.

Commenting on the pandemic, Dr. Janie Benson, Vice President for Research and Evaluation at Ipas, an international organization committed to reproductive health and rights, stated,

"As with other serious threats to public health, whether in the developing world or elsewhere, the problem of unsafe abortion should be approached by using evidence-based solutions."

She went on to note that

"after decades of public-health research on the subject, the clear and incontrovertible evidence shows that when abortion is made legal, safe and easily accessible, women's health rapidly improves."

Dr. Horton, writing in a comment introducing the special series, asserts that both the journal and the World Health Organization, which provided support for the special series, back this conclusion.

The article reviews evidence from numerous countries demonstrating that legally restricting abortion does not reduce the overall number of abortions, but does, often dramatically, increase the rates of maternal death and injury from unsafe abortion. Conversely, areas in which abortion and contraception services are widely accessible have among the very lowest overall abortion rates in the world.

(Thanks to NAF blog for the link)

"Are there no coat hangars?"

This article describes the probable results of the latest anti-abortion bill in the U.S.

The quote from "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is by the miser, Scrooge. When he's asked to donate money for the poor, Scrooge asks, "Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?" [Poor people used to be sent to workhouses to do hard labour in exchange for subsistence rations.]