Mother of Woman Killed in Legal Abortion Says Right to Know Laws Needed

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 14, 2008   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 14
, 2008

Hyannis, MA (LifeNews.com) — The mother of a Massachusetts woman who died from a botched legal abortion in September says more states need Right to Know laws that give women full informed consent. The measures would provide women information not normally given by abortion centers about abortion’s risks.

Rapin Osathanondh did an abortion on 22-year-old Laura Smith, who died in September at his Women’s Health Center abortion business.

Osathanondh gave up his medical license permanently last month and now he faces a lawsuit and criminal charges.

Eileen Smith, Laura’s mother, now says that states need to do a better job of telling women of the medical dangers associated with an abortion.

She told The Anchor newspaper she’s upset that Massachusetts lawmakers once again rejected a bill to give women the information and put in place a law that is similar to others in 30 states.

“It is such a miscarriage of justice that this bill is continually rejected,” Smith said. “I truly believe that had it been passed before last September, my daughter would still be with us today.”

“The undeniable evidence is mounting that informed consent bills only help women,” Smith told the Catholic newspaper.

“No other medical procedure besides abortion is so legally shrouded under such a veil of secrecy. Once again our legislators have turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the plight of the unborn and the suffering of women," she said.

The Anchor reports that Smith has gotten involved in the pro-life movement following her daughter’s death because she says it’s not enough to just be pro-life without taking action to make sure women and unborn children are legally protected.

“I believed if I lived my Christian life, preached the gospel, raised my children with Christian principles, that not only would abortion not touch my home, but we could make converts to Christianity and thereby lower the numbers. I was wrong on all counts,” she said.

Smith filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Osathanondh in Barnstable Superior Court on March 10.

During the initial hearing in front of Judge Robert Rufo, Smith’s attorney David Angueira said the abortion practitioner failed to properly monitor Laura following the abortion while she was still under the effects of anesthesia.

Meanwhile, Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe is pursuing an indictment against Osathanondh. A grand jury could hear testimony in the case within the next three months.