Gosnel: BroughttoJustice? ByClaireMiler
Foroveraweek, ajuryhadbeendecidingthefateofa late-term abortionist, KermitGosnel, whohadbeen chargedwithalmostthreehundredsmalcharges, four first-degreemurdercounts, andonethird-degreemurder. Ifconvicted, hefacedaposibledeathsentence. Hehad 227countsofviolatingPennsylvania’ s24hourwait periodforwomenwhowantabortionsaspartofhisleser charges. Thefourfirst-degreemurdercountshehadbeen chargedwithwerebabiesalegedlybornaliveduringilegallate-term abortions, whowerekiledbyGosnelorhis employees. Healsohadbeenchargedwiththethirddegreemurderofawomanwhodiedafterhavinghim perform theabortionprocedureonherandalegedly havingbeenoverdosedonDemerolbyGosnel’ sworkers.
Gosnelhasbeenperformingabortionssincetheverybeginningandisconsideredoneoftheoriginalabortionists. Gosnelbeganperformingabortionstheyearbeforethe Roev. WadedecisioninNewYorkCityinthe1960sand theninPhiladelphiain1972. Heisguesedtohaveperformed500abortionsperyearinthe1970sandthat numberdoubledintheyearsbeforethepoliceraidedhis clinicforasuspected“ pilmil” in2010. Heisestimated tohaveearnedaround $ 1.8milionperyear.
Throughthisrecenttrial, teriblethingsabouthisclinic andhisproceseshavebeenrevealedtothepublicbyhis employees, customers, andhimself. Hehasbeenfoundto havekepttheremainsof47abortedbabies, from 12-22 weeksand2considered“ posiblyviable,” inmilkjugs, catfoodcans, andcherylime-adecontainers. Someof thesebabiesstoredinhisclinichavebeenthereforas longasthreeyears. Hewasalsofoundtohavekeptthe abortedbabies’ feetinjars, havingseveredthem unneces- sarily. Inadditiontothis, severalofthebabieswerefound withseveredspinalcords, somethingwhichwasunnecessary, unlesthebabieswerealiveatbirth. Twoofhis workers, atthetrial, saidthattheycutthebacksofthe necksofbabiesthattheirabortionpatientsgavebirthto prematurely, attheorderofGosnel, evenwhenthe babiesweremoving.
Notonlywerehisproceseshorifying, butalsohisown clinicwasunsanitary, disgusting, andterible. James Johnson, anemployeeofGosnel’ s, responsibleforthe maintenanceofhisclinic, gavemoregruesomedetailsof theclinic. Johnson’ sjobwastounclogbackeduptoilets andcleanthepipes. Whenhedidfixthebackeduptoilets, tinybodypartswouldcomeout, towhichGosnel toldhim tojustcleanitupandputitintothemedical waste. Johnsonsaidthatthishappenedfrequently. Healso wastoldtoremovethe“ medicalwaste” tobringtothe basementoftheclinic, sothatStericyclecouldpickitup anddisposeofiteachweek. However, afterabilingdisputebetweenStericycleandGosnel’ sclinic, they stoppedpickingupthebagsofabortedbabies. Atone point, Johnsonsaid, therewere27bagsofabortedbabies