Citation

Holzer JF. Hosp. Prog. 1975; 56(4): 20-21.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, Catholic Health Assn. of the United States)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1123228

Abstract

On February 15, 1975, Kenneth C. Edelin was found guilty of manslaughter after he performed an abortion on an patient who was 20 weeks pregnant. One of the biggest public issues was whether the subject of abortion was on trial. The verdict sent shock waves to various sectors of the medical and health care professions, with many medical professionals voicing support of Edelin. The Massachusetts Hospital Association, however, issued a memorandum stating that hospital administrators may wish to place new emphasis upon the limitations of abortion procedures and stated that hospitals may be more cautious about performing abortions after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. A fear that both the medical community and the judiciary share is the growing and complex interwining of the law and medicine.

Language: en