Margaret Buetelman19101919, illegaldoctor, newyorkMargaret Kolb Buetelman died in New York’s St. Vincent’s hospital on October 22, 1914. She had been admitted suffering complications of an illegal abortion perpetrated on the 20th in the office of Dr. F. Waldo Whitney.

Whitney, age 61, was convicted of manslaughter in her death. He was sentenced to 2 – 19 1/2 years at Sing Sing.

While he was in prison, Whitney was sued by Margaret’s husband, John, on behalf of himself and the couple’s two children.

Note, please, that with general public health issues such as doctors not using proper aseptic techniques, lack of access to blood transfusions and antibiotics, and overall poor health to begin with, there was likely little difference between the performance of a legal abortion and illegal practice, and the aftercare for either type of abortion was probably equally unlikely to do the woman much, if any, good. For more information about early 20th Century abortion mortality, seeAbortion Deaths 1910-1919.

For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

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Sources:

• “Convicted of Manslaughter,” New York Sun, Dec. 11, 1915
• “Physician Sentenced to Sing Sing“, The New York Times, Dec. 23, 1915
• “Doctor in Sing Sing Sued,” Harrisburg (PA) Daily Independent, Dec. 14, 1916

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1. 1900s
2. 1910-1919
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11. 19th century
12. 2000-2009
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15. 40s
16. NAF
17. abortifacient
18. abortion
19. abortion mill
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48. georgia
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50. hospitals
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97. suicide
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