1980: Dead after abortion by unidentified perp

Little is known of 21-year-old Linda Lovelace of Tennessee.

According to her death certificate, she underwent a safe and abortion on June 14, 1980. The death certificate does not say where, or who performed the abortion.

It does say, though, that her uterus was perforated. As a result, Linda developed sepsis and went into shock. She died on July 16, 1980.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



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2002: Misdiagnosis and carelessness lead to woman's death

Brenda Vise, a 38-year-old pharmaceutical representative, died on September 12, 2002, of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy after what she believed would be a perfectly safe, legal abortion at Volunteer Women's Clinic in Tennessee. Her survivors filed suit against the facility, as well as Dr. Edgar "Ed" Perry (sometimes mistakenly identified as "Edward Perry") and Dr. Richard Manning.

The lawsuit filed by Brenda's survivors notes that "Volunteer Medical Clinic, Inc. ("VMC") was administratively dissolved by the Tennessee Secretary of State because of its failure to comply with applicable law. VMC has been administratively dissolved by the Tennessee Secretary of State since September 17, 1999."Despite having been shut down by the state, VMC continued to do business and to advertise in the yellow pages for abortions, including medical abortions.

Brenda had taken a home pregnancy test on September 5, and it was positive. The suit implies that she found VMC in the yellow pages, and made an appointment for Friday, September 7. VMC staff did a pregnancy test and did an ultrasound.

"Ms. Vise was advised that the ultrasound showed no fetus in the uterus. Clinic personnel explained that this was because the fetus was 'too small to be seen.' It was estimated that Ms. Vise was approximately six weeks pregnant. By such point in her pregnancy, a fetus in the uterus would have been easily seen with a proper ultrasound examination."

The lack of a visible fetus in the uterus should have clued the facility in to the fact that Brenda had an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency and is a contraindication to the administration of Mifeprex.

VMC gave Brenda a dose of Mifeprex. "Ms. Vise was advised by the Clinic that side effects of Mifeprex were mild and short-lived."

Brenda was then sent home from the facility with a dose of Cytotec that she was to self-administer to complete her abortion. She did not have a follow-up appointment scheduled for the recommended 2-3 days after the administration of Mifeprex.

The suit also mentions that "The Federal Government has never approved Cytotec for use in pregnant women and specifically has not approved it in pregnant women for the purpose of inducing an abortion, and in fact has warned against such use". It also noted, "In August, 2000, the manufacturer of Cytotec specifically issued a letter to healthcare providers that Cytotec was contraindicated in women who are pregnant and that Cytotec was not approved for the induction of labor or abortion, and in fact should not be used in an abortion. Ms. Vise was never advised of these facts."

"Ms. Vise was never advised of who [her qualified physicians] were and, in fact, Ms. Vise was specifically advised that she would have to return to Knoxville rather than consulting a local physician or hospital in the event of any complication."

Brenda called VMC to report problems upon returning home. In all of Brenda's repeated calls to VMC, she was assured that her symptoms were "normal and routine."

Brenda took the Cytotec as instructed roughly 48 hours after her initial dose of Mifeprex. She continued to experience pain and nausea, and called VMC. She was told to take some medications for her symptoms. VMC was told that Brenda had a sub-normal body temperature, that she was pale, and that she had significant pelvic pain. "Instead of advising Ms. Vise to immediately proceed to a doctor, the Clinic continually assured her that all of these were normal symptoms and that she was not to be concerned."

Brenda called VMC again on Monday, September 10, indicating her deteriorating condition. She was told that her symptoms were "to be expected," and was told to travel to VMC, in Knoxville, for a check-up at 3:30 p.m. "She was specifically directed not to go to a hospital in Chattanooga because, according to the Clinic, no hospital in Chattanooga would have knowledge about the drugs that had been administered."

Brenda's boyfriend tried to take her to Knoxville, "but was unable to do so" and called an ambulance, which rushed Brenda to a Chattanooga hospital.

"Ms. Vise was immediately admitted to the hospital in very critical condition. Exploratory surgery revealed that Ms. Vise had had an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy which had ruptured. Such rupture led to massive infection and a collapse of her vital systems."

"On September 12, 2001, the attending physician certified that Ms. Vise was terminal with no reasonable medical prospect of recovery and was in a coma and totally unresponsive. Ms. Vise died later that day."

Are women who choose abortion more or less likely to die from an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy than women who choose to continue the pregnancy?
More likely.
Less likely.
Equally likely.

For more RU-486 deaths, see "Wanda", Holly Patterson, Chanelle Bryant, "Cherish", "Tara", Oriane Shevin, and Vivian Tran.

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



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1975: Teen dies at Chattanooga Women's Clinic

Beverly Ann Moore, age 15, died July 11, 1975 after a safe, legal abortion by Tuckey Hayes at Chattanooga Women's Clinic -- the "Lime 5" clinic.

Hayes assured Beverly's parents that she would be "all right" just fifteen minutes before she died.

Chattanooga Women's Clinic was written up for continued deficiencies even after Beverly's death. Noted flaws included (with dates of citation):

• "Wrist, knee or foot controls not provided on lavatories used by physicians and nurses" (3-8-79)
  
• No system for referring patients to other health care providers (3-8-79)
  
• No emergency transfer arrangements (3-8-79)
  
• Lack of written job descriptions (3-8-79, 10-10-89)
  
• Lack of documentation of staff qualifications (10-10-89)
  
• Inoperable emergency lighting (3-8-79, 3-12-87, 3-17-87, 4-5-93)
  
• Re-use of disposable curettes (3-12-87)
  
• Medications out-of-date (5-22-85, 3-12-87, 3-17-87, 10-10-89, 4-6-92)
  
• Outdated IV solution (10-10-89)
  
• Medications improperly stored (3-8-79, 3-12-87, 3-17-87, 6-18-87)
  
• Unwrapped speculums stored in examining table drawer (6-18-87)
  
• Used disposable curettes stored on shelf with clean supplies (6-18-87)
  
• Blood in procedure table (10-10-89)
  
• Dirty floor and equipment in lab (10-10-89)
  
• "[O]ut of date sterile instruments are in autoclave area" (6-18-87)
  
• "Sterile instruments in treatment room observed to have stains" (4-6-92)
  
• Patient records lacking documentation of required testing for sexually transmitted diseases (10-10-89).

For more abortion deaths, visit the Cemetery of Choice:



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Anniversary: RU-486 death in Tennessee

Brenda Vise, a 38-year-old pharmaceutical representative, died on September 12, 2002, of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy after a chemical abortion at Volunteer Women‘s Clinic (the Lime 5 clinic) in Tennessee. Her survivors filed suit against the facility, as well as Dr. Edgar Perry and Dr. Richard Manning.

The lawsuit filed by Brenda‘s survivors notes that "Volunteer Medical Clinic, Inc. (‘VMC‘) was administratively dissolved by the Tennessee Secretary of State because of its failure to comply with applicable law. VMC has been administratively dissolved by the Tennessee Secretary of State since September 17, 1999." Dispite having been shut down by the state, VMC continued to do business and to advertise in the yellow pages for abortions, including chemical abortions.

Brenda took a home pregnancy test on September 5, and it was positive. The suit implies that she found VMC in the yellow pages, and made an appointment for Friday, September 7. VMC staff did a pregnancy test and did an ultrasound. "Ms. Vise was advised that the ultrasound showed no fetus in the uterus. Clinic personnel explained that this was because the fetus was ‘too small to be seen.‘ It was estimated that Ms. Vise was approximately six weeks pregnant. By such point in her pregnancy, a fetus in the uterus would have been easily seen with a proper ultrasound examination."

The lack of a visible fetus in the uterus should have clued the facility in to the fact that Brenda had an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency and is a contraindication to the administration of Mifeprex.

VMC gave Brenda a dose of Mifeprex. "Ms. Vise was advised by the Clinic that side effects of Mifeprex were mild and short-lived."

Brenda was then sent home from the facility with a dose Cytotec that she was to self-administer to complete her abortion. She did not have a follow-up appointment scheduled for the recommended 2-3 days after the administration of Mifeprex.

The suit also mentions that "The Federal Government has never approved Cytotec for use in pregnant women and specifically has not approved it in pregnant women for the purpose of inducing an abortion, and in fact has warned against such use." It also noted, "In August, 2000, the manufacturer of Cytotec specifically issued a letter to healthcare providers that Cytotec was contraindicated in women who are pregnant and that Cytotec was not approved for the induction of labor or abortion, and in fact should not be used in an abortion. Ms. Vise was never advised of these facts."

"Ms. Vise was never advised of who [her qualified physicians] were and, in fact, Ms. Vise was specifically advised that she would have to return to Knoxville rather than consulting a local physician or hospital in the event of any complication."

Brenda called VMC to report problems upon returning home. In that first call, and in Brenda's repeated calls to VMC, she was assured that her symptoms were "normal and routine."

Brenda took the Cytotec as instructed roughly 48 hours after her initial dose of Mifeprex. She continued to experience pain and nausea, and called VMC. She was told to take some medications for her symptoms. VMC was told that Brenda had a sub-normal body temperature, that she was pale, and that she had significant pelvic pain. "Instead of advising Ms. Vise to immediately proceed to a doctor, the Clinic continually assured her that all of these were normal symptoms and that she was not to be concerned."

Brenda called VMC again on Monday, September 10, indicating her deteriorating condition. She was told that her symptoms were "to be expected,"; and was told to travel to VMC, in Knoxville, for a check-up at 3:30 p.m. "She was specifically directed not to go to a hospital in Chattanooga because, according to the Clinic, no hospital in Chattanooga would have knowledge about the drugs that had been administered."

Brenda‘s boyfriend tried to take her to Knoxville, but for a reason not cited was unable to do so. Instead, he called an ambulance, which rushed Brenda to a Chattanooga hospital.

"Ms. Vise was immediately admitted to the hospital in very critical condition. Exploratory surgery revealed that Ms. Vise had had an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy which had ruptured. Such rupture led to massive infection and a collapse of her vital systems."

"On September 12, 2001, the attending physician certified that Ms. Vise was terminal with no reasonable medical prospect of recovery and was in a coma and totally unresponsive. Ms. Vise died later that day."

Even though, in theory, women who choose abortion should be less likely to die of ectopic pregnancy complications, experiences shows that they‘re actually more likely to die, due to sloppy practices by abortion practitioners.

Anniversary: Sepsis claims Tennessee woman's life

Little is available in public records about 21-year-old Linda Lovelace of Tennessee. According to her death certificate, she underwent an abortion on June 14, 1980. The death certificate does not say where, or who performed the abortion. It does say, though, that her uterus was perforated. As a result, Linda developed sepsis and went into shock. She died on July 16, 1980.

Anniversary: Teen dies at the "Lime 5" clinic

Beverly Ann Moore, age 15, died 7-11-75 after abortion by Tuckey Hayes at Chattanooga Women's Clinic -- the "Lime 5" clinic.

Hayes assured Beverly's parents that she would be "all right" just fifteen minutes before she died.

Chattanooga Women's Clinic was written up for continued deficiencies even after Beverly's death. Noted flaws included (with dates of citation):

"Wrist, knee or foot controls not provided on lavatories used by physicians and nurses" (3-8-79)

No system for referring patients to other health care providers (3-8-79)

No emergency transfer arrangements (3-8-79)

Lack of written job descriptions (3-8-79, 10-10-89)

Lack of documentation of staff qualifications (10-10-89)

Inoperable emergency lighting (3-8-79, 3-12-87, 3-17-87, 4-5-93)

Re-use of disposable curettes (3-12-87)

Medications out-of-date (5-22-85, 3-12-87, 3-17-87, 10-10-89, 4-6-92)

Outdated IV solution (10-10-89)

Medications improperly stored (3-8-79, 3-12-87, 3-17-87, 6-18-87)

Unwrapped speculums stored in examining table drawer (6-18-87)

Used disposable curettes stored on shelf with clean supplies (6-18-87)

Blood in procedure table (10-10-89)

Dirty floor and equipment in lab (10-10-89)

"[O]ut of date sterile instruments are in autoclave area" (6-18-87)

"Sterile instruments in treatment room observed to have stains" (4-6-92)

Patient records lacking documentation of required testing for sexually transmitted diseases (10-10-89).

Double standard in Tennessee

Woman Tries to Perform Her Own Abortion

Krista Bonds was 30 weeks pregnant, her boyfriend changed his mind about wanting the baby, so she drank bleach. (Fortunately, she suffered only temporary ill-effects, and the baby was unharmed.)

First of all, she's got some serious mental health issues if she's drinking bleach. Especially when she's doing it to please some man.

Second of all, had she found some abortionist -- somebody wealthy and educated -- to do the job for her, she'd never have faced any charges whatsoever. And even if the wealthy and educated doctor got caught, the most he'd likely face would be a slap on the wrist. Naughty, naughty! Volunteer Women's Medical Clinic is in Nashville is still open, even after screwing up so badly that Brenda Vise died. I have little doubt that they'd have obliged her, for a fee, and that they'd have suffered few, if any, repercussions had they gotten caught.

This is like the situation in Boston, where where a poor, uneducated woman is being prosecuted for her baby's death in a self-abortion attempt.

If a doctor does it, somebody with a medical degree, somebody well educated and wealthy and with society connections, he'll get, "Oh, naughty boy! Next time, be more careful when you're calculating gestational age!" But if a poor, uneducated, minority woman does it to herself, it's like that line in Weird Al's "Don't Download This Song":

They'll treat you like the evil, hard-bitten criminal scum you are!

Don't get me wrong. I think that both of these women did deplorable things. (Though I think the woman in Tennessee may be more lacking mental health than lacking a conscience.) But this is selective prosecution based on social standing. And that's wrong.

Krista Bonds has fled to avoid prosecution, so she's not safe from herself, and her baby's not safe from her. Prayers needed for both of them.