Tuesday, September 23, 2008

1899: Midwife performs fatal abortion in Chicago home

On September 23, 1899, Mary Kakacek died in her Chicago home from complications of an abortion performed that day by midwife Annie Stonek. Stonek was held without bail by the Coroner's Jury.

Which was more common before legalization: For a woman to find a non-physician with medical training, such as a nurse or midwife, to perform her abortion? Or for a woman to rely on somebody with no medical training at all?
It was more common to find somebody who had some medical training.
It was more common for the woman to find somebody with no medical training at all.
Both scenarios were equally unusual.
Nobody knows for sure.

For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

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