2008 Woodie Awards
Who is responsible?
Our View
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: Viewpoint
Eric Strand Columnist
Deanne St. John Columnist
Mick Swasko Columnist
Mary Yurgil Editor in Chief
A Boston woman is suing Planned Parenthood and two doctors in a malpractice suit for a failed abortion procedure. The woman claims she could not afford to have the child, which is why she went in for the abortion in the first place.
Now she's suing in hopes of winning money to bring up the baby she ended up having.
Jennifer Raper, 45, went to Planned Parenthood in April 2004, a month after she found out she was pregnant, to have the procedure. Allegedly, the abortion was done incorrectly, and the woman remained pregnant.
In July, Raper went to a hospital, and the doctor failed to notice she was pregnant even though she was 20 weeks along. Finally, in September, she went to the emergency room because she was having pelvic pains and they informed her she was pregnant.
At this point she was seven months along. How did she not know she was pregnant? By this point in a pregnancy most women are having morning sickness and other symptoms that are obviously related to being pregnant.
She also should have had some side effects of the failed abortion, which are painful and often times traumatic. In December, Raper gave birth to a girl and shortly thereafter began with her lawsuit.
Now we all know mistakes happen in every profession and the medical world is no different. Our question is who is at fault here? Raper or Planned Parenthood for performing a procedure that failed?
Every person assumes the risks of surgeries and procedures when they go to the hospital or doctor. Why should this be any different? She surely had to have filled out some paperwork to have this abortion and somewhere there had to a disclaimer stating she assumes all side effects and outcomes.
How then did the doctor in July not notice she was pregnant? Should this also be his fault?
And what about this little girl that was unwanted in the first place? What will happen to her if she ever finds out her mother never wanted her? What we want to know is why didn't this woman, if she didn't want the baby to begin with, not give her daughter up for adoption? If she really cannot afford to raise this child she could have found another alternative.
The main point here is that we all assume the consequences for our actions whether it be drinking and driving or having an abortion and the procedure not going through.
This woman is setting a huge precedent for what people are going to be able to sue for in medical malpractice cases. While its too late for her to reverse what happened to her, she can still love and care for this child just as if she had planned for it.
The biggest question left to answer is will she get the money and how much? Take responsibility for your actions because you never know, having a child just might be the best thing that could happen to you.
Deanne St. John Columnist
Mick Swasko Columnist
Mary Yurgil Editor in Chief
A Boston woman is suing Planned Parenthood and two doctors in a malpractice suit for a failed abortion procedure. The woman claims she could not afford to have the child, which is why she went in for the abortion in the first place.
Now she's suing in hopes of winning money to bring up the baby she ended up having.
Jennifer Raper, 45, went to Planned Parenthood in April 2004, a month after she found out she was pregnant, to have the procedure. Allegedly, the abortion was done incorrectly, and the woman remained pregnant.
In July, Raper went to a hospital, and the doctor failed to notice she was pregnant even though she was 20 weeks along. Finally, in September, she went to the emergency room because she was having pelvic pains and they informed her she was pregnant.
At this point she was seven months along. How did she not know she was pregnant? By this point in a pregnancy most women are having morning sickness and other symptoms that are obviously related to being pregnant.
She also should have had some side effects of the failed abortion, which are painful and often times traumatic. In December, Raper gave birth to a girl and shortly thereafter began with her lawsuit.
Now we all know mistakes happen in every profession and the medical world is no different. Our question is who is at fault here? Raper or Planned Parenthood for performing a procedure that failed?
Every person assumes the risks of surgeries and procedures when they go to the hospital or doctor. Why should this be any different? She surely had to have filled out some paperwork to have this abortion and somewhere there had to a disclaimer stating she assumes all side effects and outcomes.
How then did the doctor in July not notice she was pregnant? Should this also be his fault?
And what about this little girl that was unwanted in the first place? What will happen to her if she ever finds out her mother never wanted her? What we want to know is why didn't this woman, if she didn't want the baby to begin with, not give her daughter up for adoption? If she really cannot afford to raise this child she could have found another alternative.
The main point here is that we all assume the consequences for our actions whether it be drinking and driving or having an abortion and the procedure not going through.
This woman is setting a huge precedent for what people are going to be able to sue for in medical malpractice cases. While its too late for her to reverse what happened to her, she can still love and care for this child just as if she had planned for it.
The biggest question left to answer is will she get the money and how much? Take responsibility for your actions because you never know, having a child just might be the best thing that could happen to you.
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