Fla. doctor investigated in badly botched abortion
 

Warning: Graphic and Disturbing

http://www.buffalonews.com/260/story/570428.html

Fla. doctor investigated in badly botched abortion

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO

Associated Press Writer
Eighteen and pregnant, Sycloria Williams went to an abortion clinic outside Miami and paid $1,200 for Dr. Pierre Jean-Jacque Renelique to terminate her 23-week pregnancy.

Three days later, she sat in a reclining chair, medicated to dilate her cervix and otherwise get her ready for the procedure.

Only Renelique didn't arrive in time. According to Williams and the Florida Department of Health, she went into labor and delivered a live baby girl.

What Williams and the Health Department say happened next has shocked people on both sides of the abortion debate: One of the clinic's owners, who has no medical license, cut the infant's umbilical cord. Williams says the woman placed the baby in a plastic biohazard bag and threw it out.

Police recovered the decomposing remains in a cardboard box a week later after getting anonymous tips.

"I don't care what your politics are, what your morals are, this should not be happening in our community," said Tom Pennekamp, a Miami attorney representing Williams in her lawsuit against Renelique (ren-uh-LEEK') and the clinic owners.

The state Board of Medicine is to hear Renelique's case in Tampa on Friday and determine whether to strip his license. The state attorney's homicide division is investigating, though no charges have been filed. Terry Chavez, a spokeswoman with the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office, said this week that prosecutors were nearing a decision.

Renelique's attorney, Joseph Harrison, called the allegations at best "misguided and incomplete" in an e-mail to The Associated Press. He didn't provide details.

The case has riled the anti-abortion community, which contends the clinic's actions constitute murder.

"The baby was just treated as a piece of garbage," said Tom Brejcha, president of The Thomas More Society, a law firm that is also representing Williams. "People all over the country are just aghast."

Even those who support abortion rights are concerned about the allegations.

I'm not even going to start to say what I'm really feeling. But a society that would allow a living child to be placed in a biohazard bag and thrown away is going to reap what it's sown.

Obviously our society doesn't allow it, just this one abortion clinic.

Society wasn't holding the biohazard bag. Let's blame the people who did not do their jobs properly and according to procedure. That particular clinic and those present will be getting their day in court.

I'm not blaming the mother, who knows what was going on? But I wonder if she felt the child was born live then why did she not protest at the time for proper assistance since obviously those around her were not concerned?

I share your horror, as would, I think, most people. But just from reading the full story linked (and a fuller version can be found here at the Miami Herald), I would not agree with the idea that this is "a society that would allow a living child to be placed in a biohazard bag and thrown away." Even without reading the full story, I'm fairly sure that most people who support abortion rights would find this horrifying.

I have to admit, however, that the lawyer in me does indeed wonder whether we're getting the complete story.

I'm not sure what you mean by "allow." This wouldn't be a story that is causing outrage and a case under investigation if society at large condones this. It is clearly condemned.

I'm pro-choice and I consider this murder. I am disgusted and I wager that the average pro-lifer and pro-choicer finds this disgusting and wants justice to be served.

I would agree with this. There's a big difference between ending a pregnancy and giving birth then killing the baby.

I'm very pro-choice but 23 weeks? I've known babies to be born premature at those weeks and have survived. I've heard of partial birth abortion but I alway assumed that meant 4 or 5 months. (although a family friend gave birth at 5 months and that little girl is about 10 years old now)

But that's not what disgusts me about this story. Where was the doctor? Why was someone with no medical experience dealing with this?

What is the legal allowed amount of time can a woman go before she is denied termination?

I thought it was the first trimester.

Is there a US standard or different between jurisdictions?

I believe that the Supreme Ruled that the state can only intervene in the third trimester.

I am really asking for a ruling in 'regular' abortions, not in extreme cases.

cool beans....


Looks like somebody is in serious trouble

Sorry to hijack, but I was just reading through this (thank you for the link, I have never actually read any statutes on abortion) and near the bottom of the page, this comes up:

9. 320.08058 f.s.
Score: 81.69%
Abstract: Florida panther license plates must bear the design of a Florida panther and the colors that department approves. The word "Florida" must appear at the top of the plate, and the words "Florida Memorial University" must appear at the bottom of the plate. The word "Florida" shall appear at the top of the plate, and the words "Protect Florida Whales" shall appear at the bottom of the plate.

I wonder what words triggered an 81.69& match? :confused:

The general Roe rule was a trimester rule:

• First trimester -- a state cannot restrict a woman's right to an abortion
• Second trimester -- a state can regulate abortions procedure during the second trimester provided it does so in ways reasonably related to the mother's health
• Third trimester (or when the fetus is viable) -- a state can choose to restrict or proscribe abortion as it sees fit except that a state cannot prohibit abortion where it is necessary, in appropriate medical judgment, to preserve the life or health of the mother.

Later cases have modified this some, but it's still probably the basic rule of thumb.