Philadelphia Abortion Doctor Charged With 8 Counts Of Murder

January 19, 2011 11:23 PM

(File photo of Dr. Kermit Gosnell)

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A West Philadelphia abortion doctor, his wife and eight other suspects are now under arrest following a grand jury investigation.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 69, faces eight counts of murder in the deaths of a woman following a botched abortion at his office, along with the deaths of seven other babies who, prosecutors allege, were born alive following illegal late-term abortions and then were killed by severing their spinal cords with a pair of scissors.

“I am aware that abortion is a hot-button topic,” said District Attorney Seth Williams. “But as district attorney, my job is to carry out the law. A doctor who knowingly and systematically mistreats female patients, to the point that one of them dies in his so-called care, commits murder under the law. A doctor who cuts into the necks severing the spinal cords of living, breathing babies, who would survive with proper medical attention, is committing murder under the law.”

Gosnell is facing charges of murder in the third degree for the death of 41-year-old Karnamaya Mongar. Mrs. Mongar died on November 20, 2009, when she was overdosed with anesthetics prescribed by Gosnell. He is also facing seven murder charges for the deaths of infants who were killed after being born viable and alive during the sixth, seventh, or eighth month of pregnancy. Gosnell is also facing numerous other charges.

Gosnell is suspected of killing hundreds of living babies over the course of his 30-year practice. However, he is not charged because the records do not exist.

DA Williams said Gosnell made approximately $1.8 million in one year alone performing the procedures.

Hear the DA’s entire press conference in this CBS Philly podcast …

DA Seth Williams

Four of the suspects, some improperly licensed according to officials, also face multiple counts of murder for allegedly killing the newborns. All of the suspects are now behind bars after warrants were served overnight.

A search of Gosnell’s office, called the Women’s Medical Society, revealed that bags and bottles holding aborted fetuses were scattered throughout the building. Jars containing the severed feet of babies lined a shelf.

Gosnell, a family practioner, was never certified as an OB/GYN. He is accused of re-using unsanitary instruments and performing procedures in filthy rooms. Some of the rooms had litter boxes and animals present at the time of the operations.

WATCH: Exclusive Interview…

Investigators also said Gosnell allowed unlicensed employees, including a 15-year-old high school student, to perform operations and administer anesthesia.

The grand jury investigation revealed that, for over two decades, government health and licensing officials had received repeated reports about Gosnell’s dangerous practices. However, no action was ever taken, even after the agencies learned that Mrs. Mongar had died during routine abortions under Gosnell’s care (see related story).

Dr. Gosnell, who has practiced in the West Philadelphia neighborhood for decades, is also the target of a federal grand jury investigation into illegally prescribing prescription drugs. Investigators say during a search of his home, they found $240,000 in cash.

Defense attorney William J. Brennan, who was out of town when the arrest happened this morning, said he had not yet talked to Dr. Gosnell, but says the charges are extremely serious and emotionally charged, and it is extremely important not to have a rush to judgement. Brennan says Gosnell is “cloaked with the presumption of innocence.”

Meanwhile, a civil suit has also been filed against Gosnell on behalf of the husband and children of the woman who died after an abortion. The suit seeks unspecified damages for the family of Karna Mongar, an immigrant from Bhutan who spent many years as a refugee. The suit claims she died after just five months here because of treatment by unlicenced personnel in a facility that lacked proper medical equipment.

The doctor, in past interviews with Eyewitness News, has proclaimed his innocence, predicting if charged, he will be acquitted.

Reported by Walt Hunter, CBS 3; Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060; and John Ostapkovich, KYW Newsradio 1060.

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Philadelphia Abortion Doctor Charged With 8 Counts Of Murder

Exterminatethebabykillers

The bad news is, God is too busy crying over stuff like this to worry about your problems. This doctor is just in the wrong city, he should be in New York, the abort about 45 percent of their pregnancies.
Mark

Who blew the whistle. I’m sure this kind of thing happens in abortion clinics all the time, but there is no oversight or enforcement of these laws. We’ll see.
Joe White

Obama was the chief spokesman against a bill in the Illinois Senate which would have prevented leaving infants without medical care to die, if they were born alive after a botched abortion.
ssinva

Don’t be fooled. God continues to bless this country not because of who we are, but in spite of who we are. I’m not sure how long that will continue though.
Dee

RJSprawl I really hope you were being sarcastic.
Toomuchtodoabout

In West Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool
And all shootin’ some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good
Started makin’ trouble in my neighborhood

gotatake

That’s funny right there now, I don’t care who you are. This must have been what the Fresh Prince was trying to escape.

http://torontoparadise.com/services/update/philly-abortion-doctor-charged-with-8-murders-including-7-babies-killed-with-scissors-wife-and-8-others-also-arrested/ Philly abortion doctor charged with 8 murders, including 7 babies killed with scissors; wife and 8 others also arrested | Real Time

[...] charged with 8 murders, including 7 babies killed with scissors; wife and 8 others also arrested Breaking news This entry was posted in Breaking News and tagged abortion, also, arrested, babies', charged, [...]
Jason

Where in the article did it say he was a drug dealer?

Anarcho-Capitalist

Dear Jason,

You’re an idiot.
Jennifer

“Dr. Gosnell, who has practiced in the West Philadelphia neighborhood for decades, is also the target of a federal grand jury investigation into illegally prescribing prescription drugs.”

It doesn’t say he is, but he is under investigation and if he does those other sick & twisted things you can only assume the investigation will prove he is.
Ben

Ummmm, illegally prescribing drugs makes you a drug dealer. It was also implied he was doing it for the extra cash, hence the 240K in his basement.
Kerry Early

perhaps the statement that he illegally prescribed drugs.
Roz Crandall

“…illegally prescribing prescription drugs” = drug dealer, according to Wilsonian.

Mark

I’d say according to everyone.

Magic

“Dr. Gosnell, who has practiced in the West Philadelphia neighborhood for decades, is also the target of a federal grand jury investigation into illegally prescribing prescription drugs” halfway down the article.
Numbo

Ehh, you might want to bother reading the _whole_ article before asking, but I’ll just give you the quote from the article again: “Dr. Gosnell, who has practiced in the West Philadelphia neighborhood for decades, is also the target of a federal grand jury investigation into illegally prescribing prescription drugs”.
That’s where it said he’s a drugdealer. Or alleged drugdealer if you prefer that.

blake

too bad the attempt failed in your case.
Jeanie

AMEN!!!
abd4JC

Animals have more rights than a baby in the womb (and I’m an animal lover).. the tide needs to turn.. Every action has a reaction, since the legalization of abortion there has been a long list of reactions.. the devaluing of our children, women, marriage, more abuse.. I could go on and on….

MST

Thanks, I’m pro-life and an animal lover too. But why does it seem like so many animal rights people, like Peter Singer, are pro-abortion? Really, is the life of a seal or whale more valuable than that of a human being? I just don’t get it.
KateB

Oh yeah, women REALLY had it great back in the day, and marriage was such a picnic when you HAD to stay with an abusive, philandering, distant spouse because you were pregnant with the 20th baby and had NO chance of securing a job due to sexism and lack of educational opportunities. *EYE ROLL* You need to pick up a history book…

Sounds like this was an illegal clinic – I.E., what there would be HUNDREDS of if Roe v. Wade was overturned…unscrupulous people will take advantage wherever they can.

mongo

you have to be married to irresponsibly kill a baby – when did that happen? Too bad you weren;t aborted – that’d show ‘em

Jimbo

We were never given the oportunity to vote on abortion issues.
A handfull of activist judges did that for us!
festus

$240,000 in cash at the house and he is not a politician? unusual.oh wait,he is a drug dealer
EJ

or 9 months… maybe 10 months… a heck, give or take a few. Nothing scientific here… maybe we just draw the line whenever the social interaction involves critical thinking and non-contradictory philosophy’s, eh RJSprawl?

Gus

EJ- And you’ve barely moved the needle since that day in your case.
http://deeperwaters.wordpress.com/ apologianick

Your humanity is based on cognitive functioning?
SirGareth

You’ve just murdered the Democrat-socialist party.

Mark

Of which you are one.
UyeahU

Ah the alchemy of the womb, when you’re in it you are not a human being, but the moment you’re out you become one, all without the addition of any new genetic material. I’m having a bit of trouble following the logic here. That these so-called health practitioners killed the newborns shows them to be more interested in death and profit than in the heath and well being of anyone. Since the death penalty is probably not going to be an option, a nice long prison sentence will have to suffice.

Mike

I have no doubt you have trouble with logic, since you clearly don’t follow it.

My fingernail has all the genetic material to make me. Genetically, my fingernail is human.

Amy I committing mass murder if I get a manicure?

A fetus is not viable outside the womb as a human until its lungs can breath air on their own and it can digest food. Neither of these things occur before week 34. When they are done, guess what? The baby is born.

Isn’t nature grand.

Nothing in the story indicates the “age” of the fetuses. Nothing indicates their medical condition – born alive but encephalitic (no brain), deformed and unlikely to survive birth We don’t know. I guess that’s why they have trials.

For the record, 92 % of all abortions occur before 12 weeks and 985 before there is brain activity at 20 weeks. Abortions after this are almost always done for health reasons.

But don’t let facts get in the way of a good rant eh?

Again, if these procedures weren’t illegal, then those women would not have gone to an illegal clinic like this. They would have gone to a regular clinic or hospital where they would have got proper treatment and advice.

Meaning anti-choicer’s are part of the problem and partly to blame for this tragedy.

Hope you feel better now…

mark

You’re a scary person RJ
rodowal

I’m not sure based on your comment you qualify under your own qualifications of cognitive function and social interaction ability to be considered a “real person”. Should we treat you with the same consideration these innocents are?
Buster

I don’t understand the outrage. We voted its fine for a mother to kill her baby. Why are we so upset when she actually does it? If this disturbs you, vote NO on baby killing next time (shrug)

Quance Slainte

We never got to vote on it. Some old men in the Supreme Court said it was OK
mrm

To Buster

That’s where you’re wrong WE never voted! All it took was one activist judge whose daughter’s life was changed by an unplanned pregnancy ( he should have recused himself from the case) to set a precedent in Roe v Wade.

icetrout

Here Be Monsters.

Dale

Really? When did the public vote on this? I am curious. The public consistently polls against all types of abortion, yet it is still the law of the land. No one voted except the Supreme Court and the continue to uphold this “procedure”. Congress grew a tiny amount of backbone and voted against partial birth abortion but that is it. The current administration issued an executive order reinstating federal funding for abortions and has not yet rescinded it even though that was part of the compromise to pass ObummerCare.

Mike

What “polls” are you reading. According to Gutmacher, most people in Canada and the US support legalized abortion.

Only the fanatical few think it should be outlawed.

Doug

I wasn’t aware Roe v Wade was an election.

SirGareth

I wasn’t it was a decree. Decrees are features of dictatorial power.
clint

Sir Gareth,
It was a judgment by the Supreme Court, yes? So, the Court’s approval of the federal partial birth abortion ban would be a sign of dictatorship, agreed?

Mike

Buster,

You don’t get to vote what another person can do with their body, mkay? Its kinda no of your business.

Which is the point of Roe. v Wade.

Jim

I’m praying for you…
Dr. Powell

this is a disgusting example of something I’m sure goes on throughout our country. These people should not be allowed to be called Doctors. This is the most inhumane treatment of another human and they will ultimately pay. If not in this world the next.
Jim

Days? Weeks? Where exactly do you draw the line? 13 days and 4 hours before and arbitrary “term” seems nice. anything before that is okay as far as abortion and anything after that is bad.
bob

Whats the big deal. If a baby is not a person, why is the person having the baby killed considered a person?
Lauren

As someone who has spent a lot of time in the NICU, I will say that babies become people long before 40 weeks of pregnancy.

johnbirch

God Bless You.

MSSpahr

It’s about time someone realized that babies in the womb within days or weeks or term are REAL PEOPLE.

SirGareth

I took SOME people a lot of time to realize that the darkies they considered property were real people too.

The ability of the human mind to engage in self deception is limitless.