Gina Gardner, a 17-year-old cheerleader at Gulf Comprehensive High School in West Pasco, Florida, went to Dr. James R. Lund for a safe, legal abortion on July 26, 1974.
She went into convulsions almost immediately after Lund administered a fourth dose of the local anesthetic Lidocaine while she was still under the effects of the initial dose of Demerol for the procedure. She convulsed for nearly twenty minutes.
Gina was pronounced dead at Morton F. Plant Hospital the following day.
Gina's mother, Patricia Kennedy, had to wrangle to even bring the case to court because of a recently-passed Florida law regarding medical malpractice cases. Her suit alleged that Lund's office lacked the facilities and staff to deal with respiratory arrest and failed to provide appropriate informed consent. She ended up settling out-of-court for a mere $15,000.Watch "Twenty Minutes of Seizures" on YouTube.
Sources:
Sources:
- "7 Pasco malpractice claims delayed until Supreme Court rules on new state law," St. Petersburg Times, May 3, 1976
- "Suit names Port Richey osteopath in death of woman's daughter," Tampa Bay Times, May 18, 1977
- "Malpractice suit in case of abortion death to continue," St. Petersburg Times, September 10, 1977
- "Mother settles for $15,000 from doctor in death of daughter during abortion," Tampa Bay Times, March 15, 1978
No comments:
Post a Comment