Lime 5: Incomplete Abortion or Retained Tissue

Deaths I've already covered

Maria Ortega traveled with her husband from their home in Boston to New York, where she underwent a safe, legal abortion performed by Dr. Armida Zepeda. After 20 minutes of trying to suction out a two-month fetus, Zepeda concluded that 23-year-old Maria hadn't actually been pregnant after all and sent her on her way. Maria and her husband returned to the friend's apartment, where Maria died that evening. She'd actually been over four months pregnant, and Dr. Zepeda had shoved the fetus through the wall of the uterus into Maria's abdominal cavity. The young woman bled to death. 

Janet Foster was 18 on September 11, 1971 when she underwent an abortion at a North Hollywood hospital, performed by Dr. Richard Neal. Neal discharged Janet with a mangled fetus still in her uterus. She called on September 14 to report abdominal pain, and Neal instructed her to return the following day. During the night she went into convulsions and was pronounced dead at the hospital. She had died from septicemia.  (LA County Coroner Case No. 71-9846 and LA County Superior Court Case No A310874 and Case No C34424)

Linda Padfield

Erstwhile criminal abortionist Benjamin Munson performed a five-month abortion on 28-year-old Linda Padfield (pictured) on June 15, 1973. He sent her home with 2/3 of her mangled fetus still in her uterus. Linda died from overwhelming infection on June 18. Munson would go on to perform a similar fatal incomplete abortion on 18-year-old Yvonne Mesteth in 1985.

Elizabeth Tsuji underwent an abortion at a Planned Parenthood on November 11, 1977. When she called in December to say that she still wasn't menstruating, they assured her that the abortion was complete. It wasn't until February 1 that 21-year-old Elizabeth confirmed that she was still pregnant -- five months pregnant. The planned Parenthood referred her to the notorious Inglewood General Hospital (actually a dedicated abortion hospital). Elizabeth checked in that day and died the next day from abortion complications.  She was the third death at Inglewood. Kathy Murphy had died in 1973 of sepsis from an abortion at Inglewood. Lynette Wallace died in 1975 after her doctor at Inglewood failed to diagnose her ectopic pregnancy. It took two more deaths -- Cora Mae Lewis and Belinda Byrd -- for the state to finally take action and close the hospital down.

Susan Levy, a homeless woman, was found dead of sepsis in her friend's car on May 19, 1992 after an incomplete abortion performed April 9 at Family Planning Associates Medical Group in Mission Hills, California. Susan is the eights of 18 dead patients I know of at this National Abortion Federation flagship chain of clinics.

One of Raymond Showery's victims

Raymond Showery's Family Hospital in El Paso

"Ida" was 25 in January of 1978 when she went to Family Hospital (pictured), a combination maternity and abortion hospital run by Raymond Showery (John Doe 109). Ida wanted to get an abortion quickly, so rather than wait for her own doctor to return from vacation, she called El Paso Mental Health-Mental Retardation Services, and they referred her to Family Hospital.

Showery told Ida she was six weeks pregnant and performed the abortion.  After her abortion, Ida thought her periods has returned, but they were very light. She attributed her weight gain to nervous eating. She found herself tearful for no reason. 

Then one day she felt a movement. She put her hand over her abdomen. "I started feeling these kickings, and I thought, wait a minute!" She went to her regular ob/gyn. He confirmed that the abortion had failed; she was about 19 weeks pregnant. 

 Ida went to Showery and wanted him to finish the job he'd been paid to do. He told Ida that maybe she was pregnant again, or maybe she'd been pregnant with twins and he'd only aborted one of them. Showery charged her for the second abortion, saying that he wasn't Sears and didn't guarantee his work. He told her he'd perform the second abortion for $300.

Dr. Raymond Showery

Ida said the exam was painful, "like he just put his whole fist up there, just jammed it." Ida screamed, and the nurse aide offered her a hand to clutch. 

After the exam, Showery told Ida and her boyfriend that he'd have to charge more because Ida's pregnancy was so far along that he'd have to use a more complex procedure. "He showed us the diagram and how he'd have to section off the fetus," Ida said, imitating slicing movements Showery had made with his hands to demonstrate. Ida also said that Showery said, "You ... whores just get in trouble all the time." 

Ida was anesthetized for the abortion. She woke up about five hours later in a hospital bed. "There was blood on my stomach and down my legs. I was laying in a pool of blood." She stumbled into the hall and asked to use a shower. "I was just dripping blood," Ida said. The employee told Ida that the shower was only for inpatients. Ida insisted and was allowed to shower.

About a week later, Ida felt something "coming out." She rushed to the bathroom and passed six inches of umbilical cord and a small, bloody four-fingered hand." Ida said that she started waking up crying after "dreams about chopped up children." She was hospitalized a week for suicidal depression. 

Showery also kept the insurance refund that was supposed to go to Ida, and was convicted in the case. ("Witness admits lying in fund misuse trial," El Paso Times, March 31, 1981; "2 abortions, 1 nightmare," El Paso Times, April 5, 1981)

"Margie" and the teenage victim

Planned Motherhood" fake clinic

John Roe 609 is Dr. John D. Peeples. Jr, who called his office "Planned Motherhood" so that it seemed to be a licensed clinic in ads, even though it just looked like an enormous house (see photo). The state had wanted to license and inspect the practice, but Peeples asserted that the roughly 850 abortions he performed annually did not qualify as a "substantial" number of abortion since other clinics in the area performed 2,000 - 3, 000.

John Peeples Jr

Lime 5 recounts the case of "Margie," who underwent an abortion there on February 28, 1979. Peeples told Margie that he had been unable to complete the abortion and to return on March 2. After this second procedure, Margie continued to suffer bleeding and pain. It continued until July 5, 1983, when she could no longer tolerate it. She went to an emergency room and was diagnosed with an infection, inflammatory cysts, and endometriosis reaching to her cervix and appendix. A surgeon also performed a hysterectomy. A pathology report found bones from the fetus aborted four years ago still in Margie's uterus. ("Two abortions suits heat regulation issue," Memphis Commercial Appeal, February 13, 1985) 

1985 ad, Memphis Commercial Appeal

This article also notes that Peeples had performed an abortion on a 14-year-old girl, "Wendy," on February 19 or 20 of 1984 and discharged her with her  20-week fetus, missing its legs and one arm,  stuck through a hole in her uterus. Suffering bleeding, a distended abdomen, and severe pain, but unaware of the cause, Wendy was admitted to Regional Medical Center in Memphis on February 24. Doctors performed surgery the following day and discovered the fetus and the injuries. The abortion left her unable to bear children.

Dadeland (TWO cases)

Dr Chatoor Singh

"Patricia" was 25 when she underwent an abortion by Chatoor Bisal Singh (John Roe 797) at Dadeland Family Planning (Acme Reproductive Services 30)  on March 2, 1985. After returning home she hemorrhaged and passed part of her fetus. She said, "I freaked out. I didn't know what to do. I could see the eyes, and the arms and legs." She put the remains in a plastic bag and took them to Dadeland, where owner/director Betty Eason told her that the tissue was just a blood clot. Patricia took the tissue to a hospital where it was confirmed that she had passed the remains of a 16-week fetus. She had to have surgery to remove additional tissue. Patricia's abortion was performed the same day that Singh performed the fatal abortion on Ellen Williams. ("Do Not Enter," Miami Herald Tropic, September 17, 1989)

"Hattie" was a 21-year-old teacher's aide when she brought $175 to Dadeland Family Planning for an abortion. Robert Kast, graduate of the University of Guadalajara School of Medicine, estimated the pregnancy at 16 weeks, did the abortion, and sent his patient home. That night Hattie bled heavily. An ambulance transported her to James Archer Smith Hospital in Homestead, Florida. She was unconscious on arrival. An x-ray revealed a mangled five month fetus. Dr. Charles Marshall House, who had performed surgery to remove the fetus, said, "It looked like the baby had been half-eaten by a dog." Kast later admitted that he knew the abortion had been incomplete but he figured that Hattie would pass the remains. ("Do Not Enter," Miami Herald Tropic, September 17, 1989)

Quote by abortion-rights activist Janis Compton-Carr

The Miami Herald ran an expose of Dadeland Family Planning and interviewed abortion-rights activist Janis Compton-Carr. Her response to the horrors at Dadeland? "In my gut I am completely aghast at what goes on that that place. But I staunchly oppose anything that would correct this situation in law."

Icky Ricke

P. Scott Ricke

Lime 5 includes the story of "Susan," who had an abortion performed by Dr. P. Scott Ricke (John Roe 16) at his Women's Surgical Clinic in Tucson on February 7, 1987. Ricke scolded Susan for screaming in pain during an abortion that dragged on for over three hours because the fetal head got stuck in Susan's body. Ricke finally tried to use his hand to get the head out but ended up getting his hand stuck inside Susan's vagina. Finally Susan kicked Ricke and refused to let him manhandle her any further. Susan asked for an ambulance, but instead Ricky put her in an employee's car with the majority of the fetus still outside her baby. He didn't get to the hospital to finish the abortion for another hour. 

It turns out that Susan had been more than seven months pregnant and the fetus weighed more than 2 1/2 pounds. The board found that Ricke had allowed an unlicensed doctor from Mexico to estimate the gestation age of Susan's fetus, which he set at only 18 - 22 weeks. 

The medical board did an emergency suspension of Ricke's license based on violation of 20 standards of medical care regarding Susan and another patient Ricke pursued sexually after her abortion. The woman told the medical board that she felt traumatized by the abortion and unable to tell Ricke no when he showed up at her home to have sex with her.

Ricke had also drawn negative publicity when he had his staff dump fetuses in the trash of a nearby apartment complex. While this was distasteful and a PR disaster, it wasn't actually illegal. ("Board suspends license of obstetrician Ricke," Arizona Daily Star, June 28, 1987; "Suspension may affect abortions," Tucson Citizen, June 29, 1987; "Witness recalls unheeded pleas during abortion," Tucson Citizen, August 13, 1987; Abortionist pleads for career, vows improvements, Tucson Citizen, August 13, 1987)

Stopped to demand more money

"Teresa" went to Dayton Women's Clinic, a National Abortion Federation member, for an abortion. She paid the $250 fee. Dr. Raymond Robinson started the abortion of what he believed to be a 10 - 12 week fetus. However, after removing a fetal leg and intestines, the doctor ordered an ultrasound and determined that Teresa was actually 14 weeks pregnant. With Teresa still on the table with instruments inside her, the Robinson asked for an additional $225. Teresa didn't have the money, so Robinson refunded $150 of the original fee and told Teresa to go to her family doctor. Teresa went to St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where doctors induced labor and she expelled the mangled fetus. The clinic insisted that Robinson had only removed a little placental tissue, not a limb or intestines, and that the amniotic sac was not disrupted when he'd discharged Teresa. ("Woman's suit says abortion botched," Dayton Daily News, August 18, 1990; Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Case No 89-4426)

More information needed

At age 27, "Katie" went to a hospital for infertility treatments only to learn that her uterus contained fetal bone fragments from two first-trimester abortions she'd undergone 8 and 9 years earlier. (Obstetrics & Gynecology, March, 1990)

"Cheryl" was 22 years old when she underwent an abortion in New Orleans. The doctor shoved the head of her fetus through a hole in her uterus and put an inch-long laceration in Cheryl's colon. She needed a transfusion of six units of blood, a hysterectomy, and a colostomy. (New Orleans Civil District Court Case No. 83-3049-A)

"Angela" underwent an abortion at a New York Planned Parenthood on June 23, 1972. They sent her home with a dead fetus still in her womb. It had to be surgically removed on December 2. (New York County Supreme Court Index Nos. 655/75 and 10838/75)

When John Doe 830 performed an abortion on "Donna" on June 30, 1973, he sent her home with a significant portion of her dismembered fetus still in her uterus. She ended up hospitalized in intensive care for over five days and had to have a hysterectomy. (Hamilton County Ohio Court of Common Pleas Case No. A73109)

Dr. Harold Hoke

Dr. Harold Hoke (John Doe 436, pictured) performed an abortion on "Joann" on November 20, 1973. He didn't perform a follow-up exam but rather just gave her an information sheet and sent her home. Within two days she was in such excruciating pain that her mother-in-law rushed her to a hospital, where doctors removed a mangled 19-week fetus from her uterus. Joann was hospitalized then was put on bed rest at home. (Lincoln County NC Superior Court Case 74CVS247)

"Gloria" was 8 weeks pregnant when she underwent an abortion by John Roe 523 on March 1, 1979. She called on March 3 to report vomiting and abdominal pain radiating down both legs. Staff told her to increase her prescribed antibiotics. She was admitted to the hospital later that day with low blood pressure, a rapid pulse, and a foul, brownish vaginal discharge. Doctors found a partially dismembered fetus in her vagina and performed a D&C to remove retained placental tissue. She was discharged from the hospital on March 9. (Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 97L24949)

"Lynne" underwent a 16-week abortion by John Roe 94 in his office on May 22, 1979. The abortion was incomplete so Roe performed an additional D&C. He punctured her uterus. She developed an infection and had to undergo a hysterectomy and a colostomy. (Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 79L16622)

"Nancy" had an abortion performed by John Roe 308 on May 9, 1981. When she called the clinic to report severe pain and cramping they told her she must have appendicitis. Nancy went to a hospital and passed a "flattened, macerated male fetus" along with tissue fragments and brown fluid. (Summit County Ohio Court of Common Pleas Case No. CV 81 12 3466)

Other case I need more documentation for

"Amy" and "Cindy," John Roe 739 (Braxton Tabb), Colorado Board of Medical Examiners Case No. ME 86-07.

"Emily," John Roe 476, New York Department of Health State Board for Professional Conduct Statement of Charges dated February 19, 1991.

"Janet," 1988, discovered fetal bone in her vagina. The Banner (no specific city cited), June 30 and July 2, 1998)

Watch Lime 5: Incomplete Abortions on YouTube.