Abortion Deaths – PQ

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

  • Linda Padfield, June 18, 1973 Age: 28
    • First of two similar cases with Dr. Benjamin Munson, Rapid City, SD
    • Sepsis from mutilated fetus left in uterus; acquitted of manslaughter
  • Madeline Paffrath, July 21, 1907 Age: c. 21
    • Two midwives implicated; outcome of cases unknown to me
  • Mary Ann Page, December 29, 1977 Age: 36
    • Cardiac arrest during abortion at unspecified facility
  • Mary Ann Page , March 27, 1940 Age: 20
    • Physician implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Anna Palanski, July, 1943 Age: 20
    • Midwife named in deathbed statement; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Elizabeth Palumbo, May 23, 1929 Age: 24
    • Dr. Amante Rongetti, out on bail pending new trial for previous abortion death
  • Margaret Pank, February 24, 1915
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Mary Paradowski, December 20, 1926 Age: 23
    • Midwife indicted; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Mary Paredez, April 19, 1977 Age: 26
    • Uterus perforated during abortion at San Jose Hospital
    • Hemorrhage death
  • Berter Mae Parish, July 18, 1918
    • Physician arrested; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Patricia Parish, September 8, 1947 Age: 26
    • Unspecified abortifacient obtained from undisclosed source
  • Mary Park
    • MaryParkSmall.jpg
    • August 14, 1917 Age: 24
    • Dr. Nicholas J. Phelan acquitted for reason of insanity
    • Dr. E.L. Willis convicted of murder
  • “Sherryl Parker”, November 22, 1978 Age: 18
    • Verified self-induced with pennyroyal oil
  • May Parmenter, June 10, 1891 Age: 21
    • Unspecified physician; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Viola Parr, March 1, 1919 Age: 24
    • Dr. W. G. Waters convicted
  • Holly Patterson
    • HollyPattersonSmall.jpg
    • September 17, 2003 Age: 18
    • Sepsis from medication abortion at Planned Parenthood, Riverside, CA
  • Lizzie Paulson, November 24, 1907 Age: 38
    • Possible lay abortionist; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Shirley Payne, January 4, 1983 Age: 33
    • Last of four deaths at Women’s Care Clinic
    • Bled to death from perforated uterus
    • Counted as illegal abortion death by CDC because Dr. Hipolito Barreiro was not actively licensed
  • Agnes Pearson, July 29, 1941 Age: 34
    • Two physicians charged; charges dismissed for reasons not provided in documents
  • Christina Pearson, December 24, 1908 Age: 38
    • Physician charged; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Mary Peckman, February 19, 1916 Age: 24
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Mary Pena, December 16, 1984 Age: 43
    • 3rd of 16 deaths at NAF member chain Family Planning Associates
    • Bled to death from cervical lacerations
  • Lavern Perez, January 28, 1943 Age 22
    • Dr. Henry Gross convicted of manslaughter
    • Second dead patient in one month time span
  • DaNette Pergusson, February 11, 1992 Age: 19
    • High-risk abortion done as outpatient by Dr. Robert Tamis
    • Blood clots in lungs
  • Selma Perry, March 9, 1952 Age 19
    • Lay abortionists Clarence Mueller and Elsie Schaff convicted
  • Carrie Person, March 25, 1909 Age: 37
    • Midwife Caroline Meyer also under indictment of another abortion death
    • Hung jury
  • Grace Peters, April 10, 1912 Age: 38
    • Undetermined if self-induced or other perpetrator
  • Erika Peterson, July 23, 1961 Age: 28
    • Legal abortion for maternal indications
    • Cardiac arrest
  • Ida Peterson, September 10, 1908 Age 27
    • Possible lay abortionist; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Sophie Peterson, November 30, 1926 Age: 34
    • Physician indicted; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Carolina Petritz, March 19, 1916 Age: 30
    • Midwife implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Juliet Pottinger , January 7, 1901 Age: 21
    • Dr. Maggie Becker convicted
  • Magdalena Philippi, March 16, 1869
    • Dr. Gabriel Wolff not prosecuted due to inability to prove quickening
    • Law changed to remove prosecutorial barrier
  • Ruth Phillips, June 25, 1882 Age: 20
    • Father arrested for incestuous rape and abortion; final outcome of case unknown to me
  • Marie Pickles, December 19, 1921 Age: 18
    • Nurse or midwife implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Beulah Pickerill, August 13, 1922 Age: 21
    • Two physicians named in deathbed statement; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Mary Pichman, February 19, 1915 Age: 24
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Catherine Pierce, October 10, 1989 Age: 27
    • Sloppy anesthesia practices by Dr. Daniel McBrayer at Atlanta Surgi-Center
    • In coma 7 months until death
  • Nina Pierce
    • NinaHardingSmall.jpg
    • February 15, 1925 Age: 22
    • 13th of 18 deaths linked to Dr. Lucy Hagenow
  • Gertrude Pinsky, April 4, 1954 Age: 35
    • Dr. Hugo Francese convicted of first-degree manslaughter
  • Ida Pomering, March 23, 1905 Age: 30
    • Physician or midwife implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Carrie Pollison, March 12, 1915
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Katrina Poole, December 6, 1988 Age: 16
    • Unspecified physician’s office
    • Discharged with uterine perforations; bled to death
  • Genevieve Popjoy, September 12, 1917 Age: 20
    • Unidentified perpetrator
  • Bettye Porter, June 17, 1953 Age: 24
    • Lay abortionist Norman Wade Austin convicted
  • Emma Post, June 11, 1857 Age: 20
    • Physician implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Yvette Poteat, July 29, 1985 Age: 26
    • Dr. Marion Dorn Jr., The Ladies Clinic
    • Failure to diagnose ectopic pregnancy
  • Anna Pozajevich, November 23, 1909 Age: 24
    • Possible lay abortionist arrested; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Mary Prestkiewicz , 1909 Age: 17
    • Physician implicated; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Vanessa Preston
    • VanessaPrestonTN.jpg
    • January 22, 1980 Age: 22
    • Dr. Curtis Boyd, Dallas, TX
    • Embolism-triggered clotting disorder; hemorrhage death
  • Ida Prochnow, February 20, 1906 Age: 35
    • Midwife arrested; outcome of case unknown to me
  • Emily Projahn, October 9, 1916 Age: 33
    • Physician implicated; case stricken off for reasons not provided
  • Mary Putnam, March 14, 1905 Age: 27
    • 10th of 18 deaths linked to Dr. Lucy Hagenow
    • Outcome of case unclear
  • Molly Quinby, May 31, 1915
    • Last of 7 self-induced abortions by unspecified means

* The Colonial Era