Doc's Fatal Work in 1914

Dr. F. Waldo Whitney, age 61, was convicted of manslaughter in the October 22, 1914 abortion death of Mrs. Margaret Buetelman. He was sentenced to 2 - 19 1/2 years at Sing Sing.

Note, please, that with general public health issues such as doctors not using proper aseptic techniques, lack of access to blood transfusions and antibiotics, and overall poor health to begin with, there was likely little difference between the performance of a legal abortion and illegal practice, and the aftercare for either type of abortion was probably equally unlikely to do the woman much, if any, good. For more information about early 20th Century abortion mortality, seeAbortion Deaths 1910-1919.