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Police, Medical Examiner Investigating Woman’s Death, Possible Link to Abortion in Germantown
Anti-abortion protestors allege the woman died after receiving an abortion at Germantown Reproductive Services.
Michael Martelli, executive director of Maryland Coalition for Life (at right), leads a press conference near Germantown Reproductive Services on Friday. Anti-aboriton activists allege that the death of a 29-year-old woman on Thursday was the result of an abortion she received in Germantown.
http://mdcoalitionforlife.com
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The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is investigating the death of a 29-year-old woman whom anti-abortion activists allege died after receiving an abortion at Germantown Reproductive Health Services.
The woman died Thursday at Shady Grove Hospital, according to the chief medical examiner’s office. The cause and manner of death was still pending.
“Any speculation at this point would be premature,” spokesman Bruce Goldfarb told Patch.
Montgomery County Police is coordinating with the medical examiner’s office on the investigation and is awaiting its report, a police spokeswoman told Patch on Monday.
Last week, Capt. Paul Starks, a police spokesman, told The Washington Post that there was “no indication of any criminal activity in this case.”
Representatives from the clinic did not respond to Patch’s requests for comment.
Anti-abortion protesters allege that the woman, whose identity has not been officially released, died at the hands of Dr. LeRoy Carhart days after she arrived at the clinic on Sunday.
Carhart is one of only a handful of doctors across the country to provide late-term abortions, which has made him one of the most visible targets of anti-abortion protesters. He began traveling to the family planning clinic in Germantown to provide his services in 2010 after Nebraska outlawed abortions performed after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Ever since, protestors have kept a weekly vigil outside clinic. Abortion-rights advocates have also held rallies and vigils in support of the clinic. They said Carhart offers women access to legitimate care.
Michael Martelli, executive director of Maryland Coalition for Life, has called on the Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene to close the clinic during the investigation and has asked the Maryland Board of Physicians to suspend or revoke Carhart’s license, The Washington Post reports.
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Related stories:
Maryland officials probe possible abortion link in woman’s death (The Washington Post)
Germantown enters the spotlight in national abortion debate (Germantown Patch)
Photo Gallery: A Prayerful Protest (Germantown Patch)
Carhart Anniversary Marked by Protest (Germantown Patch)
An Interview with LeRoy Carhart (Germantown Patch)
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Gburgatheist
5:46 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
It is not "anti-abortion" protesters, it is "anti-choice" protesters. You are giving these yahoo's too much credit.
Fran Asbeck
6:39 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Regretting this tragic death, I also fear, seeing demonstrators occasionally in front of the buildings in which Dr. Carhart practices, that their presence will trigger a violent response some day. Let us all speak softly as we debate this issue.
And there is some wisdom in a friend's remark that the time to be Pro-choice is before intercourse, the time to be Pro-life is upon pregnancy.
Bill Redmond
10:33 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Any violence won't come from the pro-life people.
Bill Redmond
10:35 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The second paragraph is well said.
Barbara
5:18 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Such wise words.. Thank you for your post
LeszX
7:51 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It is tragic that a kindergarten teacher from New York has to die from an abortion done by Carhart, before anyone - outside of pro-lifers (who we know are are yahoos - as Gburgatheist, above, informs us) - takes notice.
The fact is, Carhart murders babies and damages mothers every week.
We can only hope that this latest tragedy makes more people aware of what really happens in any abortion.
Jeff Hawkins
9:14 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Well said...kudo's to you
P M
9:40 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Saying that her death was "possibly" linked to an abortion is like saying that the DC sniper victims death were "possibly" linked to gunshots. Any "choice" that kills babies (and they are babies in the womb not just a mass of cells) is a horribly bad, stupid choice.
John Naughton
11:05 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Tiffany Arnold, author of the Patch arcticle, I'm dissapointed in you. You can do a better job of covering up a woman's and her baby's death at the hands of Dr. Carhart.
MomTo6
1:06 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I guess the fact that this abortion was done at 33 weeks was not of any relevance to the author.
Jeff Hawkins
1:25 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
33 weeks!! Really? How can that be legal? What the heck is going on...
MomTo6
6:55 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It's very legal in the state of Maryland. That's why he comes here to do it.
ck jones
3:23 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Awfully naive to say that pro life people will do no violence. Some have jumped in front of and even on my car when I'm pulling into the center. Nevermind that I'm going to the dentist or taking my son to an Ortho appt. I'm a woman therefore I must be going for an abortion. Extremists are everywhere. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe late term abortions should be legal either but to say all pro lifers are peaceful while abortion rights and implying that any violence would come from the other side of the debate- well...rose colored glasses my friend.
MomTo6
6:57 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Yes, unfortunately, there are some who behave very badly. But they are by far the exception and not the rule. Unfortunately, the media has painted pro-lifers with a broad brush that's not factual.
Barbara
5:16 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
I don't know which is worse, driving down Wisteria drive on Monday mornings, having to see all those pro lifers marching with posters so graphic that you have to shield little ones in your car from seeing, or the realization of what is going on inside the building!! I am not totally against abortion as there are sometimes valid reasons. But overall, adoption is a much better alternative. We don't have enough little ones to adopt here in America and instead, we go off to China to buy them. Sorry about the woman's death but as the bible teaches, an "eye for an eye." On a final note, this abortion clinic should be moved to a place that doesn't force exposure of it to our neighborhood.
repsac3
10:25 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Is anyone investigating who broke HIPPA law, and leaked the information about this poor woman? (and if not, why not?) The family is begging the anti-choice activists using her name and photographs to stop exploiting the deaths, but even the most cursory search shows that the activists refuse to do so. (The "greater good," they claim. Collateral damage. Some even say she deserved to die, and deserves to be attacked and vilified, even still. Ghouls.)
Grus Ufni
9:33 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Is it fair to interfere, intimidate, and disrupt the lives of people?
Michael Martelli
802 Amory Court
Severn, MD 21144