An American doctor who performed illegal late-term abortions and was convicted of murdering three infants born alive, as well as the involuntary manslaughter of a patient. He ran a notorious "house of horrors" clinic in Philadelphia.
Kermit Gosnell, an American serial killer and former abortion doctor, is known for running a "house of horrors" clinic in West Philadelphia where he performed illegal late-term abortions and murdered infants born alive. His clinic, the Women's Medical Society Clinic, was a non-compliant abortion facility where authorities found the intact human remains of 47 victims stored in bags and cartons during a 2010 raid.
Gosnell was born on February 9, 1941. He received his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University in 1966 and went on to operate the Women's Medical Society Clinic from 1972 until his arrest in 2011. During his career, Gosnell was known for performing abortions, often on poor and minority women, and was a prolific prescriber of controlled substances, including OxyContin.
Gosnell's clinic was raided in 2010, leading to the discovery of the remains of 47 victims, numerous other illegal abortion procedures, and regulatory violations. Staff at the clinic testified that there were hundreds of infants born alive during abortion procedures, and subsequently killed by Gosnell. He was charged with 32 felonies and 227 misdemeanors, including multiple counts of murder, manslaughter, and illegal abortion procedures.
In May 2013, Gosnell was convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of three infants and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Karnamaya Mongar, an adult patient who died following an abortion procedure. He was also convicted of 21 felony counts of illegal late-term abortion and 211 counts of violating Pennsylvania's 24-hour informed consent law. In exchange for waiving his right to appeal, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty. Gosnell was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Gosnell was married to Pearl, who also worked at the clinic and pleaded guilty to various charges in 2011. Eight other employees also pleaded guilty to various charges.
Gosnell's case led to widespread outrage and calls for greater oversight of abortion clinics. The case also sparked debates about abortion laws and regulations, with some arguing that Gosnell's actions were a result of lax regulations and others arguing that they were a result of a lack of access to safe and legal abortion services.
Gosnell's case was widely covered in the media, with many outlets criticizing the lack of attention given to the story by major news organizations. Gosnell's actions were widely condemned, and his case was seen as a failure of the healthcare system and regulatory agencies.
Gosnell's case raises questions about the ethics of abortion and the role of regulatory agencies in ensuring the safety of patients. His actions were widely seen as a violation of human rights and the dignity of human life.
Gosnell's case is a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring access to safe and legal abortion services. His actions were a betrayal of the trust placed in him as a healthcare provider, and his case has led to calls for greater accountability and oversight in the medical community.
79 Years Old
Roe v. Wade plaintiff who challenged abortion laws, later becoming a pro-life advocate. 42
Born in 1923
A Polish-Canadian physician and activist who fought for women's reproductive rights, particularly abortion, and was a key figure in the legalization of abortion in Canada.
81 Years Old
Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind the Mad Max franchise and Babe, known for his visually stunning and action-packed movies.
