Abortion Practitioner Gives Up License Permanently After Botched Abortion

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 1, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 21
, 2008

Hyannis, MA (LifeNews.com) — Abortion practitioner Rapin Osathanondh has given up his medical license permanently after a state medical board suspended it following a botched abortion that killed a woman. Osathanondh did the abortion on 22-year-old Laura Smith, who died in September at his Women’s Health Center abortion business.

LifeNews.com reported yesterday that the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine revoked Osathanondh’s license.

In the wake of a criminal investigation and likely disciplinary action, Osathanondh has relinquished his medical license for good.

The surprise move had Osathanondh telling the medical board he will not practice medicine again anywhere.

Eileen Smith, Laura’s mother, told LifeNews.com late Tuesday that "After his license was suspended he came back to the medical board with his lawyer and voluntarily resigned his license forever."

"He is never to practice in this state or in any other state with no appeal," she added.

Smith indicated Osathanondh could still face disciplinary action over her daughter’s death.

Meanwhile, the pro-life group Operation Rescue, which has also been following the case, told LifeNews.com that calls to the Women’s Health Center abortion facility indicate it is no longer accepting appointments for abortions and is referring women to other abortion businesses.

"While nothing can bring back Laura and her baby, we take great comfort in knowing that Osathanondh will never again hurt another woman or kill another innocent child," spokeswoman Cheryl Sullenger told LifeNews.com

Smith had sought an abortion from Osathanondh on September 13, 2007. She was placed under full anesthesia when only Osathanondh and a non-medical receptionist were present.

When Smith suddenly stopped breathing, the receptionist phoned 911 but gave very little information to the dispatcher. Smith died later that day.

Eileen Smith told pro-life blogger Jill Stanek that the Boston Medical Examiner’s Office finally released papers showing the cause of death despite the fact that Laura Smith died from the legal abortion five months ago.

Officials say Smith died from "cardiac pulmonary arrest during anesthesia during a voluntary termination of pregnancy" — an evaluation Eileen Smith has been trying to get officials to understand.

As LifeNews.com first reported, a pro-life group obtained records from emergency services in Massachusetts that reveal the callousness abortion business staff had towards Laura’s situation.

Transcripts of a 911 call reveal what one pro-life group calls a "cold-hearted dispassion."

Smith has pursued legal action against Osathanondh but her case was awaiting the autopsy report.