Friday, November 14, 2008

Two searches: Reformed abortion workers, and the 1970s

First, "ex abortion workers clinic"

I have a selection of links to the conversion stories of abortion workers here. The blogosphere is also buzzing recently with this dream conversion. I'd like suggestions for more stories to add.

UPDATE: RedDog provided a link to this YouTube video of a converted abortionist from South Dakota telling her story:



Then, "abortion stories 1970"

The biggest news of 1970 was New York's historic vote legalizing abortion on demand through 24 weeks, with no restrictions. The freedom New York granted abortionists brought in carpetbaggers from all over the United States. Many of these abortionists were former "back alley butchers" who fled their home states to enjoy the freedom from prosecution they would find in New York. The carpetbagging abortionists attracted to New York included such unsavory characters as Harvey Karman and Jesse Ketchum.

Some of the appalling practices found in New York in the wake of the celebrated new abortion freedom included injecting women with saline and sending them home to abort -- or die. Saline was dangerous enough when used in a hospital setting, with intense medical supervision. To do it on an outpatient basis was to play Russian Roulette with women's lives.

Pardon me for not considering this cause to celebrate.

Meanwhile, women were continuing to die in California, where abortion laws had also been loosened up, though not yet to the extent New York had embraced.

Of course, abortion enthusiasts will claim that, well, all surgery has risks, and probably more women would have died from abortions had they remained illegal. But consider this: In 1921, there were 144 abortion deaths in New York City (that includes miscarriages as well as induced abortions). By 1951 that number had fallen to 15. Abortion mortality was plummeting. Public health measures to limit abortion carnage were working -- without taking the drastic step of legalization.

Here are those beneficiaries of abortion largess I was able to identify for 1970:

  • Denise Holmes, a 24-year-old Australian woman living in Texas, decided to undergo a safe and legal abortion at Avalon Hospital in Los Angeles, California, on her way home for Christmas of 1970.

  • Sara Lint, a 22-year-old coed, submitted to a safe and legal abortion at San Vicente Hospital in Los Angeles, California, on August 11, 1970.

  • Sharon Margrove died following a safe and legal abortion in Los Angeles County, California.

  • Katherine Morse was one customer of a Texas company offering abortion tourism packages to California.

  • Maria Ortega traveled from her home in Massahusetts for a safe and legal abortion by Dr. Armida Zepeta in her New York office on October 10, 1970.

  • "Amanda" Roe was 19 years old when she traveled from Indiana to New York for a legal abortion in 1970.

  • "Alice" Roe was 31 years old when she underwent a 14-week saline abortion in New York City.

  • "Judy" Roe was a 42-year-old mother of four from upstate New York when she chose safe and legal abortion in 1970.

  • "Kimberly" Roe was 25 years old and 18 weeks pregnant when she underwent an abortion in New York City on December 23, 1970.

  • "Lori" Roe was 17 years old and 16 weeks pregnnat when she was admitted to a Maryland hospital for a saline abortion between July and December of 1970.

  • "Sheryl" Roe was in her first trimester of pregnancy when she underwent her fatal abortion on July 11, 1970.

  • F. S. died in 1970 from complications of a safe, legal abortion that she had been subjected to the year before.
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