1970: New York abortion law claims another victim

"Alice" was 31 years old and 14 weeks pregnant when she chose to undergo a safe and legal abortion in New York City. She had a history of rheumatic heart disease and two previous live births. After saline was injected into her uterus to kill the fetus, Alice developed acute pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs) and died on July 19, 1970.

New York had just legalized abortion on demand, effective July 1, 1970. Alice is the first woman known to have died specifically from a saline abortion under the new law. But she was not the first death: "Judy" has that dubious distinction. She had died on July 12 from complications of an abortion performed six days earlier.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



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