Another sad anniversary

Dr. Benjamin Munson performed the abortion on 28-year-old Linda Padfield on June 15, 1973, at his South Dakota abortion facility. He discharged her, and she later was hospitalized. She finally died of massive infection on June 18.

A pathologist found the remains of a five-month fetus in Linda's uterus, missing a leg, arm, part of its skull and part of its torso. The retained fetus caused the massive infection that had killed Linda.

The prosecution focused on the fact that infection will inevitably result from that much retained tissue. The Attorney General commented, "You take a three-inch leg off something, you have to know that there's more in there than just the leg." The defense, however, argued that infection is an accepted risk of abortion, and that the state couldn't prove that Munson meant to harm Linda. The jury bought it, and Munson was aquitted.

Despite having sent Linda home to die with roughly half her fetus rotting in her uterus, he later became a member of the National Abortion Federation (NAF). In 1985, he sent a teenage patient, Yvonne Mesteth, home with retained tissue. She, like Linda Padfield, died of infection. Again Munson was prosecuted for manslaughter, and again he beat the rap.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



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