Vol. 77/No. 14      April 15, 2013

The prosecution is seeking the death penalty and using the case as a foil against women’s right to choose abortion.

The widely publicized trial is being held while several state legislatures — including Pennsylvania — are passing or considering laws that would place further restrictions on a woman’s right to choose abortion, including sharply cutting the number of weeks during which the abortion procedure would be legal.

Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old Bhutanese immigrant, died in Gosnell’s care after having a reaction to pain medication and being transported to a nearby hospital. Her death was originally listed as accidental by the city medical examiner, but, under prodding from the district attorney, was changed to homicide months later.

The prosecution argues that the seven fetuses were older than the 24-week limit set by state law limiting abortions, and that they were delivered live and then had their spinal cords cut.

Gosnell’s clinic was sued at least 15 times for malpractice by patients, some of whom will be testifying against him about conditions at Women’s Medical Society. The clinic was ordered closed by the state in 2010 and Gosnell’s medical license was revoked.

Nine clinic workers were arrested and jailed, eight of whom pled guilty — three for third-degree murder, others for practicing without a medical license.

“Leaders with anti-abortion views are exploiting this case in an effort to further restrict access to safe abortion care,” Jennifer Boulanger, director of communications for the Philadelphia Women’s Center, a family planning clinic, told the Militant.

“One of Gosnell’s former patients testified to the Pennsylvania Senate Health and Welfare Committee that she heard Gosnell was the cheapest provider,” said Boulanger, who called for repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits use of Medicaid funds for abortion.

The gutted clinic can be viewed today through graffitied windows in a majority Black, working-class area adjacent to the University of Pennsylvania. Half a block away is the huge Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, which is affiliated with the university.

The case has sparked discussion in neighborhoods throughout the city, with a wide range of opinions being expressed on the case.

“There are those who want to use this trial to disenfranchise women of their rights,” said Iren Snavely, a former restaurant worker who lives across from the clinic. “I support all women’s right to choose,” he said.

“I don’t think the doctor’s race is the question,” said Jackie Brown, a city worker who is African-American, in reference to defense arguments that the prosecution is going after Gosnell because he and many of his clientele are Black. “Who was supposed to be inspecting this clinic?” Gosnell should lose his license, but not face the death penalty, she said.

“When I came to this country I thought the U.S. was technologically advanced but socially backward, like with the issue of abortion,” said Clark Ho, 24, a Drexel University graduate from Hong Kong and London who has lived near the clinic for three years. “In London, abortion is covered by nationalized health care.”

“Today, there are just 13 free-standing providers of surgical abortion care in Pennsylvania, down from 22 two years ago,” Kate Michelman, president emeritus of NARAL Pro-Choice America and Carol acy, executive director of the Women’s Law Project, pointed out in an opinion piece in the March 25 Philadelphia Inquirer.
 
 
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