March 5, 1980: Hospital Abortion Immediately Kills Patient

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Gwendolyn Cliett, age 29, was about to undergo a safe, legal abortion and tubal ligation at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia on March 5, 1980. She was 8 to 10 weeks pregnant. 

Before the procedure could be done, Gwendolen reacted to the anesthesia and died. 

Gwendolyn, being a Black woman, was at higher risk of abortion death than a white woman would have been.

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Sources: Pennsylvania Death Certificate # 029586; Philadelphia Common Pleas Court case#81-05-2770