Medscape Medical News Gosnell Waives Appeal, Gets Life Sentence (639 hits)
May 15, 2013 Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, MD, yesterday agreed to waive his right to appeal his murder conviction and thereby avoided the possibility of the death penalty, according to news reports. Instead, he will live the rest of his life in prison. Dr. Gosnell, 72, was found guilty of the first-degree murder of 3 infants by a Court of Common Pleas jury on Monday, as reported by Medscape Medical News. He was also guilty of conspiracy to murder in 2 of those infant deaths and of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a woman undergoing an abortion. He was also convicted on many lesser charges.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, which has covered the trial more extensively than any other major news outlet, provided the following account of Dr. Gosnell in the courtroom yesterday: Gosnell did not speak about his decision [to waive his right to appeal] except to answer the judge's questions about understanding what he was doing.
"Are you satisfied with your attorney's representation?" Judge Jeffrey P. Minehart asked. Gosnell turned to face defense attorney Jack McMahon, smiled broadly, and replied, "I am very satisfied with your representation." Assistant District Attorney Edward Cameron then called out asking if Gosnell were taking psychiatric medication or under treatment for mental illness, adding, "No offense." "No offense taken," Gosnell replied. "No, I'm not." Minehart immediately sentenced Gosnell to 2 consecutive life prison terms without parole on 2 of the first-degree murder counts.
Medscape Medical News. 'Official Neglect' Allowed Abortion Doctor to 'Butcher' By: Robert Lowes. Jan 28, 2011
..."The Pennsylvania grand jury, which released its findings last week, said it was shocked not only by the medical "mayhem" of Dr. Gosnell but also by a pattern of "official neglect" that extended from the state medical board to physicians at Philadelphia hospitals who treated his patients for perforated bowels and uteruses. Plenty of agencies and individuals saw numerous signs of something gone terribly wrong but failed to intervene. "Had state and local officials performed their duties properly, Dr. Gosnell's clinic would have been shut down decades ago," the report stated."
Instead, the horrors of the clinic — including its jars of fetal feet and other fetal parts stored in freezers — were accidently discovered and ended early last year after federal agents conducted a raid based on reports of Dr. Gosnell illegally prescribing painkillers." ...
