Wednesday, December 17, 2025

December 17, 1972: "Therapeutic Abortion" Kills Instead of Saving

"Loretta Orbach" was only 21 years old when she checked into her small town hospital in Virginia for a "therapeutic abortion" -- one done because of health problems in the mother. 

According to public records, Loretta was a newlywed, married only about a year and a half. Her high school yearbook shows a lovely blonde, active in choir and Future Homemakers of America. Though she had a bright future ahead of her, her death certificate indicates that she also had a history of heart problems.

This abortion, intended to preserve Loretta's life, was done on December 15, 1972. But during the procedure, her heart stopped. Though doctors were able to re-start her heart, this started a cascade of problems that ended in the young factory worker's death on December 17.

Source: Death certificate

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