Abortion Deaths – L

Each woman’s story includes whatever documentation I can find to substantiate her death. Women’s Stories
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All Deaths by Name

  • Mary Ann Lafavor, August 23, 1870 Age: 15
    • Unspecified abortifacient provided by landlord
  • Giselene Lafantant, October 28, 1993 Age: 25
    • Heart failure after abortion by Dr. Scher at Gynecare
  • Emma Laisure, July 7, 1941 Age: 27
    • Dr. Nathaniel Schafner convicted of murder
  • Edna Lamb, February 17, 1917 Age: 20
    • Case against physician dropped due to issues with deathbed statement
  • Marian Lang, November 11, 1909, Age: 29
    • Physician indicted; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Mary Lareau, November 1918 Age: 15
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Harriet Larocque, April 25, 1902, Age 19
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Asunta LaRosa, May 5, 1938 Age: 30
    • Fatal abortion perpetrated while suspect was awaiting sentencing in another abortion case
    • Outcome of LaRosa case unknown to me
  • Minnie Lathan, September 25, 1978 Age: 41
    • Unspecified facility
    • Uterine perforation; fatal infection
  • Mary Lawson, October 6, 1904 Age: 33
    • Dr. Alois Rassmussen convicted of murder; acquitted on appeal
  • Julia Lawynowicz, October, 1915
    • Physician and midwife arrested; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Beulah LeClair, December 2, 1945 Age: 18
    • Dr. James Unowawa admitted to abortion, successfully argued medical necessity
    • Another dead patient nine years later
  • Josephine LeClear, April 19, 1874 Age: 24
    • Physician implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Betty Ledel, October 19, 1954 Age: 27
    • Naturopath Sylvia Redman confessed
  • Nancy Jo Lee, April 25, 1932 Age: 17
    • One of at least four deaths linked to Dr. Richard Thacker
    • Outcome of case unknown to me
  • Rose Lefebre, December 1, 1901 Age: 33
    • Unlicensed midwife suspected and released
    • No other suspect identified
  • Mary Ellen Legge, June 1, 1938 Age: 24
    • Otto Lucy, posing as physician, confessed
    • Another woman died while disposition of case was pending
  • Maria Leho, June 11, 1999 Age: 26
    • 12th of 16 deaths at NAF member chain Family Planning Associates
    • Multiple failures in anesthesia care, monitoring, resuscitation
  • Ruth Lemaire, April 30, 1917 Age: 24
    • Second of three deaths linked to Dr. Lillian Hobbs
    • No prosecution, likely due to murder convictions in the other two deaths
  • Elizabeth Lembacker, January 20, 1910 Age: 27
    • Midwife implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Barbara Lerner, April 18, 1981 Age: 30
    • Unspecified facility; infection death
  • Susan Levy, May 19, 1992 Age: 30
    • 8th of 16 deaths at NAF member chain Family Planning Associates
    • Homeless woman, found dead in friend’s car from infection due to retained fetal parts
  • Annabella Lewis, January 28, 1918 Age: 27
    • Self-induced with slippery elm bark
  • Cora Lewis, December 3, 1983 Age: 23
    • 4th of 6 deaths at Inglewood Women’s Hospital
    • Uterine infection progressing to pneumonia
  • Mrs. George Libby, November 28, 1888 Age: 18
    • Abortifacient bought from traveling medicine salesman
  • Stella Licherman, February, 1928
    • Physician arrested; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Harriet Lichtenberg, October 18, 1942 Age: 23
    • Dr. Henry Katz pleaded guilty
  • Rose Lieberman, April 16, 1920 Age: 24
    • First of two deaths linked to Dr. Herman J. Webber
    • Outcome of case unknown to me
  • Mrs. Lincoln, 1837
    • Abortifacient provided by physician
  • Anna Lindquist, August 19, 1917 Age: 31
    • Midwife acquitted for reasons not specified
  • Florence Lindquist, April 26, 1914 Age: 18
    • Physician implicated in deathbed statement
    • Outcome of case unknown to me
  • Margaret Linstrom, November 12, 1917 Age: 22
    • Second of three deaths linked to Dr. Anna Sorenson
    • Sorenson died in jail awaiting trial for third death
  • Sara Lint, August 12, 1970 Age: 22
    • First of 16 deaths at NAF member chain Family Planning Associates
    • Hysterotomy abortion (similar to C-section) failed to remove fetus
  • Rose Lipner, January 29, 1936 Age: 32
    • Dr. Maxwell C. Katz admitted to abortion; claimed medical necessity
  • Maria Lira, October 16, 1974 Age: 19
    • Dead fetus left in uterus during abortion at Riveria Hospital
    • Death from infection
  • Martha Lockdoy, September 1857 Age: 18
    • Abortifacient sold by “Indian doctress”
  • Barbara Lofrumento
    • BarbaraLofrumentoYearbookPhotoTN.jpg
    • June 3, 1962, Age: 19
    • Dismembered and flushed down toilet
    • Dr. Harvey Lothringer extradited from Europe; pleaded guilty to manslaughter
  • Suzanne Logan, December 1, 1992 Age: 34
    • Failures in anesthesia, monitoring, resuscitation
    • Languished, mute and paralyzed, 3 years until death
    • Second of two similar deaths of Dr. Gideon Kioko, Hillview Women’s Medical Surgical Center
  • Helen Long, February 23, 1916 Age: 25
    • Physician/husband implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Diana Lopez
    • DianaLopezHeadshot.jpg
    • February 28, 2002 Age: 25
    • Internal lacerations during rushed abortion at Planned Parenthood; bled to death
  • Linda Lovelace, July 16, 1980 Age: 21
    • Unspecified facility
    • Uterine perforation, sepsis
  • Leona Loveless, February 11, 1905 Age: 17
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Lottie Lowy, July 26, 1925 Age: 27
    • 15th of 18th death linked to Dr. Lucy Hagenow
    • Outcome of case unknown to me
  • Elva Lozada, April 9, 1964 Age 27
    • Unspecified procedure and cause of death
    • Abortion in unspecified California hospital
  • Deborah Lozinski, June 21, 1985 Age: 17
    • Mishandled anesthesia; two month coma before death
    • Dr. Scheininger, Medical Care Center
  • Marjorie Luensman, May 22, 1929 Age 27
    • Midwife implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Catherine Lurandowski, February 28, 1918 Age: 27
    • Possible lay abortionist implicated; outcome of case unknown to me

* The Colonial Era