1975: Mother of four bleeds to death

Sandra Chmiel was a pretty young mother of four when she went to Biogenetics Ltd. in Chicago for a safe and legal abortion on June 3, 1975. Even though 35-year-old Sandra was more than 12 weeks pregnant, the Biogenetics doctor chose to ignore the Illinois law that required abortions after 12 weeks to be performed in hospitals.

Within hours of her abortion, Sandra had bled to death from a punctured uterus. Biogenetics (which had been the target of at least 30 malpractice suits) claimed that their doctor was only repairing damage Sandra had done to herself in an attempted self-induced abortion. However, Biogenetics settled the case with Sandra's survivors for $75,000.

Brenda Benton and Synthia Dennard also died after abortions at Biogenetics.

Biogenetics's owner Kenneth Yellin was gunned down outside his facility in an apparent gangland slaying in 1979.

(NOTE: The current Biogenetics company in Chicago is not affiliated with any abortion facility and was in no way associated with Sandra's death.)

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



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