October 22: One of Three Fatalities for a New York Physician

Margaret Buetelman died in New York's St. Vincent's hospital on October 22, 1914. She had been admitted suffering complications of an illegal abortion perpetrated on the 20th in the office of Dr. F. Waldo Whitney. Whitney, age 61, was convicted of manslaughter in her death. He was sentenced to 2 to 19 1/2 years at Sing Sing.

Whitney had already been implicated in the 1913 abortion death of Annie Brassler.

While he was in prison, Whitney was sued by Margaret's husband, John, on behalf of himself and the couple's two children.

Whitney was pardoned in 1918 and regained his medical license only to perform another fatal abortion for which he was sent to prison in 1923. I've been unable to determine the woman's name. He was released from prison again in 1926 and died from a broken leg in 1927.

Watch The Three Dead Patients of Dr. F. Waldo Whitney on YouTube.

Sources:

• "Regents Revoke 3 Licenses of Law Violators," Glenn Falls Post-Star, March 21, 1924
• Sing Sing receiving blotter, December, 1915
• Whitney pardon, August 6, 1918
• Whitney restoration of rights, August 6, 1918
• Sing Sing receiving blotter, September 11, 1923
• Whitney release, 1926