No surprise: Abortion doc pleads not guilty in patient death

Dr. Rapin Osathanondh (O-SATH-an-on) pleaded innocent today on a charge of manslaughter in the death of 22-year-old Laura Hope Smith. Laura was declared dead September 13, 2007 at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis after going into cardio-respiratory arrest during a safe, legal abortion procedure performed at Osathanondh's office, which he called Women’s Health Center, in Hyannis. Osathanondh was released on his own recognizance after surrendering his passport.

Osathanondh has already surrendered his license to practice medicine in order to halt -- and prevent public disclosure about -- a medical board investigation into Laura's death. Osathanondh had Laura under general anesthesia for her abortion, but was assisted only by a medically-untrained receptionist.

Laura's mother, Eileen Smith, told Operation Rescue West that a Sheriff's Deputy from another county provided Osathanondh and his staff with CPR training after Laura's death, then backdated the session to a date prior to Laura's death, with the full knowledge that someone had recently died at the facility. Osathanondh and his staff had been not been certified in CPR at the time of Laura's fatal abortion. Eileen has filed a complaint in Bristol County against the deputy. Laura's family have also filed a lawsuit against Osathanondh in order to bring to light the truth about Laura's death.



Osathanondh is not the first abortionist to have untrained staff assisting with patients under general anesthesia:

Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health (medical director David Gluck) had nobody on staff qualified to administer general anesthesia, resulting in death of "Kelly".

Hanan Rotem had a receptionist with no medical training administering general anesthesia; I have been unable to determine if this was a factor in the death of Gloria Aponte. Rotem was a member of the National Abortion Federation.

Joe Bills Reynolds had the janitor administering general anesthesia in his facility, where Gaylene Golden underwent her fatal abortion.

He is also not the first abortionist to face charges in the death of a legal abortion patient:

Dr. Robert Sherman was charged with murder in the 1975 abortion death of Rita McDowell.

Frank Robinson was charged with murder in the 1982 abortion death of Jennifer Suddeth.

David Benjamin was indicted for murder in the 1993 abortion death of Guadalupe Negron.

Bruce Steir (rhymes with "fear") was charged with murder in the 1996 abortion death of Sharon Hamplton (pictured, with son Curtis).

John Biskind was charged with homicide in the 1998 abortion death of Lou Ann Herron.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



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