August 17, 1971: Sunshine and Unicorns in Pre Roe New York

"Vicki" was 23 years old when she underwent an abortion in New York state, taking advantage of the liberalized abortion law. 

She was 20 weeks pregnant. The doctor decided to use the saline abortion method, which involved injecting a strong salt solution into the amniotic fluid. The fetus would swallow and inhale the fluid, which caused massive internal bleeding. The fetus would die, triggering labor. 

Saline was injected into Vicki's uterus to begin the abortion. The next day, she began to show signs of infection. She expelled her dead fetus but her condition did not improve. 

On August 17, 1971, she died of sepsis. 

LDI Sources: "Maternal Mortality Associated With Legal Abortion in New York State: July 1, 1970 ? June 30, 1972,Á± Berger, Tietze, Pakter, Katz, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 43:3, March 1974, 323.