October 5, 1971: Safe and Legal Journey Ends in Death

I believe I have identified "Becky," who was 18 years old when she traveled from Arkansas to New York for a safe and legal abortion. Because the abortion was never publicized I will respect her privacy and continue to use the pseudonym that Life Dynamics gave her.

Becky was from a tiny Arkansas town, and a sophomore in college. She must have been academically gifted to be in her second year of college at the age of only 18. She was 14 weeks pregnant when she made what turned out to be a fatal journey.

The abortion was performed on September 26, 1971. Though Becky was running a fever the day after the abortion, staff discharged her to return home.

By the time Becky got back to Arkansas and saw a doctor, her condition was critical. This doctor admitted her to a hospital where she died from infection on the morning of October 5.

Sources: "Maternal Mortality Associated With Legal Abortion in New York State: July 1, 1970," June 30, 1972” Berger, Tietze, Pakter, Katz, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 43:3, March 1974, 325