Kermit Gosnell
Encyclopedia
Kermit Barron Gosnell is an American doctor in Philadelphia who ran two multi-million dollar abortion practices, alleged to be fraudulent. After a controversy nearly a year earlier, Gosnell was arrested in January 2011, charged with eight counts of murder: one patient who allegedly died under his care after a botched abortion, and seven infants supposedly born alive
whose spinal cords
Gosnell allegedly severed with scissors. A grand jury
recommended charges of murder against Gosnell and several of his employees. CNN
stated in March of 2011 that prosecutors were considering seeking the death penalty.
in West Philadelphia
. The reports say he was well known for providing abortions to minority and immigrant women. He allegedly employed his wife, Pearl, at his abortion clinic, and she has since been arrested too. State officials have failed to visit or inspect his abortion clinic since 1993. It is claimed that Gosnell charged $1,600-$3,000 for each late-term abortion.
Prosecutors also claim that Gosnell is not certified in either gynecology or obstetrics. The FBI and DEA raided his office in February of 2010 and word quickly circulated about the terrible and unsanitary conditions inside the building.
Born alive rule
The "born alive" rule is a legal principle that holds that various aspects of the criminal law, such as the statutes relating to homicide and to assault, apply only to a child that is "born alive"...
whose spinal cords
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
Gosnell allegedly severed with scissors. A grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
recommended charges of murder against Gosnell and several of his employees. CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
stated in March of 2011 that prosecutors were considering seeking the death penalty.
History
According to press reports, Gosnell graduated from the Jefferson Medical School in 1966, and in 1972 set up shop on U.S. Route 30U.S. Route 30
U.S. Route 30 is an east–west main route of the system of United States Numbered Highways, with the highway traveling across the northern tier of the country. It is the third longest U.S. route, after U.S. Route 20 and U.S. Route 6. The western end of the highway is at Astoria, Oregon; the...
in West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
. The reports say he was well known for providing abortions to minority and immigrant women. He allegedly employed his wife, Pearl, at his abortion clinic, and she has since been arrested too. State officials have failed to visit or inspect his abortion clinic since 1993. It is claimed that Gosnell charged $1,600-$3,000 for each late-term abortion.
Prosecutors also claim that Gosnell is not certified in either gynecology or obstetrics. The FBI and DEA raided his office in February of 2010 and word quickly circulated about the terrible and unsanitary conditions inside the building.
Arrest and alleged malpractice
Gosnell was arrested on January 19, 2011 and charged with eight counts of murder. Prosecutors allege that he killed seven babies born alive by severing their spinal cords with scissors, and that he was also responsible for the death of a woman in his care who died after a botched abortion. Gosnell's wife and eight other suspects were also arrested in connection with the case.Reactions
Gosnell's arrest has been the subject of much public comment:- Outgoing Governor Ed RendellEd RendellEdward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
(D-PA) criticized Department of Health officials saying; "I was flabbergasted to learn that the Department of Health did not think their authority to protect public health extended to clinics offering abortion services". - Incoming Governor Tom CorbettTom CorbettThomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
(R-PA) was disappointed that Pennsylvania Department of Health officials had done such a poor job of inspecting abortion facilities, saying through a spokesperson that he was; "appalled at the inaction on the part of the Health Department and the Department of State." - Mayor Michael Nutter (D-Philadelphia) said; "I think it's quite clear that, if these allegations are true, we've had a monster living in our midst" while vowing to watch the city's remaining abortion clinics more closely.
- Delaware Attorney General Beau BidenBeau BidenJoseph Robinette "Beau" Biden III is an American lawyer, Army JAG officer, and politician from Wilmington, Delaware. He serves as the Attorney General of Delaware and a Major in the Delaware Army National Guard...
(D-Delaware) promised a wide-ranging investigations into the abortions Gosnell performed in Delaware saying; "I'm disturbed by the allegations that were handed up by the grand jury in Philadelphia". - Vicki Saporta, speaking for the National Abortion FederationNational Abortion FederationThe National Abortion Federation is an organization of abortion providers. Though originally a U.S. group, NAF has expanded to include practitioners in Canada and Australia as well as many European countries and Mexico...
, an association of abortion providers, pointed out that Gosnell had been denied membership in the association because his facility did not meet appropriate standards of care, and commented, "Unfortunately, some women don't know where to turn. You sometimes have substandard providers preying on low-income women who don't know that they do have other (safe) options." - Dayle Steinberg, of Planned ParenthoodPlanned ParenthoodPlanned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
Southeastern Pennsylvania, condemned Gosnell, saying, "We would condemn any physician who does not follow the law or endangers anyone’s health...All women should have access to high-quality care when they are vulnerable and facing difficult decisions."