Thursday, October 16, 2008

1974: Rotting fetus triggers fatal hemorrhage for teen

Maria Lira was a 19-year-old college student when she went to Riveria Hospital on October 14, 1974, to undergo a safe, legal abortion. After she'd been discharged, Maria had problems and returned. Staff perfromed a D&C, then discharged her again. That night, she went to the emergency room due to excessive bleeding. She was sent to Torrance Memorial Hospital for treatment. Maria died at Torrance Memorial on October 16. The autopsy found a decomposing fetus in her uterus, which had caused infection and DIC (disseminated intravacsular coagulopahty). The DIC prevented clotting, causing the hemorrhage that killed Maria.

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2 comments:

Rebecca Bartlett said...

Thats terrible, just as terrible as the woman who naturally miscarried and couldn't find a doctor to help her get rid of the fetus rotting inside her and making her terribly ill. She had to go outside the state to SD to recieve any help and only because the infection was killing her did any doctors there help either. Their reason? Abortion was illegal in the state she lived in and removing a fetus, even a dead one, would have gone too close to that line for these doctors to take a risk on and it nearly cost a woman her life.
Abortion for selfish purposes is wrong, but not giving one, or even just a D&C, to a woman who needs it is worse.

Christina Dunigan said...

Rebecca, removing a fetus that is already dead is NOT an abortion and is NOT illegal anywhere.