National Abortion Federation DeathsnationalabortionfederationThe National Abortion Federation is supposed to be the cream of the crop, the safest, most professional abortion providers in the nation. But a closer look shows otherwise. One participant in a NAF Risk Management Seminar admitted to lying to women in order to cover up injuries during abortions, and six of his fellows admitted to doing the same.

The contrast between what NAF says and what they do is striking. Even NAF’s hotline workers are kept in the dark, the better to funnel women into what they’re assured are safe facilities that adhere to the highest standards of care. The NAF web site tells visitors:

• “What is a NAF Clinic? NAF is the professional association of abortion providers in North America. …. In order to become a member, a clinic must complete a rigorous application process. Member clinics have agreed to comply with our standards for quality and care…. NAF periodically conducts site visits to confirm that our clinics are in compliance with our guidelines.

In the sad cases below, you’ll see for yourself how little women can count on prochoice organizations, even the most respected ones, to steer her safely through her abortion.

Also keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list of women who’ve died after abortions at NAF facilities. These are just the deaths in which I was able to verify that either the practitioner or the facility was either listed on a NAF annual report as a member, or in which the facility was listed on the NAF web site as a member.

• Leigh Ann Alford, 34, sent home from a National Abortion Federation member clinic with an undiagnosed uterine perforation in 2003
• Gloria Aponte: After Gloria’s death, an investigation by health officials found that Hanan Rotem had failed to perform necessary blood tests, and had permitted a receptionist with no medical training to administer anesthesia.
• Deanna Bell: Thirteen-year-old Deanna was overdosed on Brevital. She was one of a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Diane Boyd: In addition to Diane’s death, NAF member Robert Crist has two other deaths to his discredit: Nichole Williams and Latachie Veal.
• Chanelle Bryant:Chanelle was given RU-486 in an off-label manner at an FPA facility in southern California. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Patricia Chacon: Patty’s parents claim that she bled to death while left unattended. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Barbaralee Davis: Eighteen-year-old Barbaralee was the first woman to die of abortion complications in member facility of the then newly-formed NAF. She was far from the last. Her abortion was at the ill-named Hope Clinic for Women.
• Laniece Dorsey: Seventeen-year-old Laniece lapsed into a coma and died. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Tamika Dowdy: Twenty-two-year-old Tamika died of a botched abortion while her rapper boyfriend waited to tell her he’d just gotten a recording contract
• Josefina Garcia: FPA staff failed to diagnose Josefina’s ectopic pregnancy. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Christin Gilbert: This developmentally-disabled teen was taken to George Tiller’s infamous late-abortion facility in Wichita for a third-trimester abortion that he managed somehow to justify on “health” grounds, even though Christin had been healthy before the abortion killed her.
• Regina Johnson: NAF member Abraham Alberto Hodari is responsible for the death of Regina, along with Tamiia Russell and Chivon Williams.
• Nakia Jorden, 16, not properly monitored, anesthesia screw-up at NAF member FPA, 1998
• Susan Levy:This homeless woman was found dead in her friend’s car. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Maria Leho, given the wrong drugs at NAF member FPA in 1999
• Dawn Mack: NAF member facility Eastern Women’s Center is responsible for the death of 21-year-old Dawn, as well as Dawn Ravenelle and Venus Ortiz.
• Sophie McCoy: Seventeen-year-old Sophie died after an abortion by NAF member Abu Hayat, who is best known for having ripped the arm off a 32-week-fetus, Ana Rosa Rodriguez, who was then born maimed.
• Jennifer McKenna-Morbelli, 29, died after a 33-week abortion at a National Abortion Federation member clinic in Maryland in 2013.
• Yvonne Mesteth: Despite the fact that he was responsible for the death of 28-year-old Linda Padfield, Benjamin Munson was welcomed into NAF. He went on to perform a fatal abortion on 18-year-old Yvonne.
• Denise Montoya: Denise was fifteen years old when her parents brought her to Women’s Pavilion in Houston for an abortion on in mid-May, 1988, performed by Douglas Karpen. She was 25 weeks pregnant.
• Christine Mora: Christine’s abortion was rushed through in only three minutes. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Kimberly Neil: Kimberly’s family alleged that she was not properly attended after she suffered anesthesia complications. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Sara Niebel: Fifteen-year-old Sara died after an abortion at NAF member Midtown Hospital.
• Joyce Ortenzio: Joyce was sent home from her abortion with fetal parts still in her uterus. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Venus Ortiz: Venus was 23 years old when an abortion at Eastern Women’s Center left her in a coma from which she never recovered. Dawn Ravenelle and Dawn Mack also died after abortions there.
• Catherine Pierce: Inspectors cited Atlanta Surgi-Center for administering “the same anesthesia dosages” to patients whose weights ranges from 107 to 167 pounds, inadequate record keeping, and inadequate supervision of patients.
• Mary Pena: Mary’s abortion death was uncovered by a vital records clerk who noticed problems with her death certificate. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Vanessa Preston: Curtis Boyd and his staff at Fairmount Clinic stand out in that they responded promptly and appropriately to Vanessa’s cardiac arrest.
• Dawn Ravenelle: NAF member facility Eastern Women’s Center is responsible for the death of 13-year-old Dawn, as well as Dawn Mack and Venus Ortiz.
• Maria Rodriguez, 22, bled to death from ruptured uterus at NAF member FPA, 2000
• Tamiia RussellTamiia Russell: Fifteen-year-old Tamiia’s boyfriend was 24. In Michigan that constitutes statutory rape. The boyfriend’s sister took Tamiia in for the abortion behind her parents’ back, in violation of Michigan’s parental involvement law. NAF member Abraham Alberto Hodari is also responsible for the death of Regina Johnson and Chivon Williams.
• Angela Scott and Delores Smith: NAF member facility Atlanta Women’s Pavilion managed to fatally injure these two teens in the same hour.
• Oriane Shevin: Oriane was given her abortion drugs in an off-label manner at Eve Surgical Center.
• Tami Suematsu: Tami suffered an asthma attack during her abortion. She was one of over a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Latachie Veal: In addition to Latachie’s death, NAF member Robert Crist has two other deaths to his discredit: Nichole Williams and Diane Boyd.
• Ta Tanisha Wesson, 24, allowed to choke while unattended at FPA facility in 1995
• Chivon Williams: NAF member Abraham Alberto Hodari is responsible for the death of Chivon, along with Tamiia Russell and Regina Johnson.
• Nichole Williams:In addition to Nichole’s death, NAF member Robert Crist has two other deaths to his discredit: Latachie Veal and Diane Boyd.

Below are deaths that have a connection with the National Abortion Federation or its members in some way.

• Sharon Hamplton and her son, CurtisSharon Hamptlon
• Sharon’s abortionist, Bruce Steir, was a frequent attendee at NAF events. I haven’t been able to confirm that he was a member.
• Denise Holmes
• FPA had been permitted to join NAF even though 24-four-year-old Denise had already died under their care She was one of a dozen patients I know of who have died from complications of abortions at Family Planning Associates Medical Group.
• Karnamaya Mongar, 41, drugged to death at Philly “house of horrors” run by Kermit Gosnell, who worked part time at a NAF clinic in Delaware, where he was permitted to begin illegal third-trimester abortions which he’d then finish at his own clinic.
• Linda Padfield
• Despite the fact that he was responsible for the death of 28-year-old Linda, Benjamin Munson was welcomed into NAF. He went on to perform a fatal abortion on 18-year-old Yvonne Mesteth.
• Semika Shaw, 22, doped to death at Kermit Gosnell’s “house of horrors,” 2000