1970: Abortion tourism kills Texas woman in California

After California legalized abortion on demand in 1970, a Texas company began capitalizing on this by selling abortion referrals and air fare. Twenty-year-old Katherine Morse was one customer.

Katherine was admitted to Bel Air Memorial Hospital in LA County on September 1, 1972.

Why was Katherine's abortion performed in a hospital? There are two correct answers.
At that time, California required that all abortions be performed in hospitals.
Katherine's doctor had recommended an abortion for health reasons, so Katherine had chosen a package deal that included a hospital abortion rather than a clinic abortion.
Most abortions at that stage of pregnancy were performed by saline method, which required a hospital stay -- at least if the doctor was trying to protect his patient's well-being.
Katherine was well-to-do and could afford the additional fee for a hospital abortion rather than stay in a motel.

John Dupont initiated a saline abortion on Katherine. Katherine developed a 102 degree fever, then expelled the dead baby just after midnight on September 3.

Katherine's blood pressure rose, she went into shock, and was pronounced dead by Dupot at 9:40 AM. An autopsy found sepsis, and gangrene of the ovary.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



To email this post to a friend, use the icon below.