SUMMARY: Gina Lea Gardner, age 17, died July 27, 1974 after an abortion performed by Dr. James R. Lund in West Pasco, Florida

Gina Gardner, a 17-year-old cheerleader at Gulf Comprehensive High School in West Pasco, Florida went into convulsions almost immediately after Dr. James R. Lund administered the local anesthetic Lidocaine. That was the fourth time he administered the drug to Gina while she was still under the effects of an initial dose of Demerol for her abortion. Gina was hospitalized but died the following day.

Gina’s mother, Patricia Kennedy, had to wrangle to even bring the case to court because of a recently-passed Florida law regarding medical malpractice cases.

Sources:

• “7 Pasco malpractice claims delayed until Supreme Court rules on new state law,” St. Petersburg Times, May 3, 1976
• “Malpractice suit in case of abortion death to continue,” St. Petersburg Times, September 10, 1977