Five anniversaries

Today's anniversaries cover quite a time span. Click on each woman's name to read the details.

Margaretta Velth died on August 16, 1876, from peritonitis caused by an abortion. Coverage of the story focuses on determining the cause of death and the people involved.

On August 16, 1899, Mrs. Antonie Vacicek died in her home from complications of an illegal abortion performed there that day. Very little additional information was available.

Cheryl Vosseler, age 17, died August 16, 1969 from complications of a safe, legal abortion performed at Fresno General Hospital.

Dorothy K. Brown, age 37, died August 16, 1974, just hours after a safe and legal abortion at Friendship Medical Clinic in Chicago. Julia Rogers and Evelyn Dudley also died after abortions at Friendship Medical Center.

Marla Anne Cardamone (pictured), age 18, died August 16, 1989 at Magee Women's Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marla had been browbeaten into the unwanted abortion by a hospital social worker, who told her (falsely) that the medication she had been taking had left her baby severely disabled. Marla was injured during administration of an antiquated abortion method, then left virtually unattended to die.