October 1, 1989: Severed Blood Vessels, Hemorrhage, and Death

Brenda Banks was 35 years old and 13 weeks pregnant when she went to Hillcrest Women's Surgi-Center in Washington, DC, for an abortion. As a black woman, she was at higher risk of death from abortion than a white woman would have been.

The abortion was performed by Llewelyn Crooks on September 30, 1989.

Brenda went into shock, and was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Doctors performed an emergency hysterectomy and transfused Brenda with 20 units of red blood cells, to no avail. She died the following day, October 1, 1989.

Brenda's uterus had been perforated and several major blood vessels had been cut or severed entirely.

Her survivors were unable to collect damages from Crooks and Hillcrest because Crooks' insurance company was insolvent, and Hillcrest carried no insurance.

According to Grok, this facility was part of a lose network of clinics all owned by Dr. Michael Jackson in the 1980s, which includes the Hillcrest in Harrisburg, PA where Kelly Morse underwent her fatal abortion.

Crooks was also sued for botching a delivery, resulting in the death of the infant, and for a second obstetric case in which the baby suffered severe brain damage.

Sources: 

• District of Columbia Superior Court
• "Woman died after abortion at Hillcrest in D.C.," Defend Life, March-April 2001