Friday, March 11, 2011

1974: Fatal work of erstwhile criminal abortionist

Sidney Knight was facing a number of criminal abortion charges in 1973, when Roe v. Wade made them a moot point. He hung out his shingle and began performing abortions legally.
In March of 1974, Janet Blaum went to Knight's New Orleans facility for a safe and legal abortion. Five days later, on March 11, she was dead of brain hemorrhage.
Janet's ex-husband sued Knight on behalf of the couple's children, alleging that Knight had administered a fatal dose of anesthesia while preparing Janet for the abortion.


Sources: Orleans Parish Autopsy Protocol 74-3-89; Jefferson Parish Case No. 168-162 (1974)

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