A US doctor is on trial for murder after allegedly killing seven babies who were born alive during late-term abortions carried out at a clinic in West Philadelphia.
Dr Kermit Gosnell (72) ran the Women's Medical Society where he reportedly murdered the babies by “snipping” their spinal cords after forcing their mothers to give birth.
"He regularly and illegally delivered live, viable babies in the third trimester of pregnancy - and then murdered these newborns by severing their spinal cords with scissors," the grand jury said.
Former employees of the clinic claim that the babies were still moving after birth, with one stating that she had heard the sound of a screaming baby.
A medical school graduate assisting at the clinic described the doctor’s methods as “literally a beheading” saying that at times “it would rain fetuses. Fetuses and blood all over the place.”
Poor practices
It is claimed that dangerously poor hygiene and medical practices, which involved overdosing women with sedatives and using unclean equipment, also caused the death of at least two women seeking terminations at the clinic.
The grand jury report said: “The medical practice by which he carried out this business was a filthy fraud in which he overdosed his patients with dangerous drugs, spread venereal disease among them with infected instruments, perforated their wombs and bowels - and, on at least two occasions, caused their deaths."
Illegal
Dr Gosnell has also been accused of carrying out illegal terminations after the 24 week upper limit for abortion in Pennsylvania, with one employee stating that abortions were performed “very often” up to 26 weeks.
The grand jury said that the doctor catered for women "who couldn't get abortions elsewhere – because they were too pregnant."
It is also claimed that Dr Gosnell attempted to “save time” by routinely inducing labour in women, even though such practices carry serious health risks and are used rarely in second trimester abortions.
"Labour induction abortion carries the highest risk for problems, such as infection and heavy bleeding, stroke, and high blood pressure," the Lousiana health department website says.
Regulation
The disturbing case has re-ignited the abortion debate across America, with pro-life groups arguing that it highlights the lack of regulation of abortion clinics, and the need for more reporting and accountability by doctors.
"[It] has started a really important conversation about what abortion looks like, and about how women deserve better than what Gosnell wanted to give them," said Alison Howard, communications director at Concerned Women for America, a conservative pro-life group.
She added: "Kermit Gosnell of course is an extreme case of what happened, but we know that women are hurt and can be hurt during surgical abortions.
“There needs to be oversight and there needs to be regulations in place to help them."
Discrepancy
Pro-life groups have also argued that the case raises serious questions about the practice of late-term abortions, and the discrepancy between the treatment of babies depending on whether they are located inside or outside the womb.
Dr Peter Saunders of Christian Medical Comment said: "If people are shocked by infanticide– and I hope that most are especially after reading a story like this – then they should surely be equally questioning late abortion."
Media coverage
The US media has been criticised for failing to cover the story sufficiently, with one journalist writing for the Atlantic stating: "British readers must know about the case of Dr Kermit Gosnell, which has been played down in the American media – possibly because the allegations of a homicidal abortion doctor don't fit into their pro-choice narrative."
Kirsten Powers, a columnist for USA Today, said: "This is not about being 'pro-choice' or 'pro-life'. It's about basic human rights."
The trial continues and could result in Dr Gosnell facing a death sentence should he be convicted of the charges.
For detailed information on the case visit: http://whoisgosnell.com/
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