-Caveat Lector- conservativeinfo - Subscribe to the Conservative Information email list at http://conservativeinfo.listbot.com Abortion Practitioner Convicted of Manslauter in Legal Abortion Death Source: Associated Press, Arizona Republic; May 5, 2001 Phoenix, AZ -- An abortion practitioner was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for a botched abortion that led to the death of a 33-year-old woman. LouAnne Herron bled to death in 1999 after John Biskind punctured her uterus during an abortion at the now-closed A-Z Women's Center abortion facility in Phoenix. Prosecutors demonstrated that Biskind and co-defendant Carol Stuart-Schadoff, administrator of the abortion facility, did not care for Herron adequately as she bled heavily following the abortion. No doctors or registered nurses remained at the facility following the abortion, and Biskind testified that he did not return and instead went shopping after being notified of Herron's condition, deferring treatment to a nearby hospital. They also pointed out that Biskind and Stuart-Schadoff ignored sonograms that showed Herron's pregnancy was too advanced for an abortion. Prosecutors said seven sonograms performed on Herron showed the length of her pregnancy ranged from 26 weeks to 23 weeks and three days, but six of those documents were lost or destroyed by the defendants. Superior Court Judge Michael O. Wilkinson sentenced Biskind, 75, and Stuart-Schadoff, 63, who was sentenced to four years probation and 500 hours of community service. She was convicted of negligent homicide for her role in arranging the abortion and waiting so long to call for paramedics. Wilkinson also ordered Biskind to pay $12,841.40 in restitution. He has 20 days to file an appeal. Herron's father, Mike Gibbs, attended the sentencing and said he was satisfied with Biskind's sentence. Shane Wickfors, Executive Director of Arizona Right to Life said his group was "very disappointed" by the weak sentence. "During the sentencing," Wickfors explained, "Biskind turned to the family of LouAnne Herron and stated, 'I goofed.' It was clear that Biskind continued to show reckless disregard for his actions and the value of human life." "We are extremely disappointed that the judge did not sentence him to the maximum 12 years. Biskind has yet to show any sincere remorse in this terrible tragedy. It's very clear that the only thing he's sorry about is his incompetence," Wikfors stated. In final statements, Biskind's attorney, Lawrence Kazan, stated that "abortion lends itself to these kinds of mishaps," acknowledging the risks and dangers associated with abortion. Biskind's Arizona medical license was revoked after a botched abortion on a 17-year-old girl in June 1998. In that case, she was rushed to a hospital and a doctor delivered a full-term baby who Biskind had estimated at 23.6 weeks. He also had surrendered his license to practice in Ohio. But Biskind is not the first abortion practitioner in the nation convicted for performing a botched abortion. California abortion practitioner Bruce Steir, 69, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last year after botching an abortion and killing a woman. He only served 114 days before being released on parole. Like Biskind, Steir had perforated the uterus of the mother, 27-year-old Sharon Hamptlon, while performing an abortion of her 20-week-old unborn child. Hamptlon bled to death in front of her 3-year-old son while being driven home by her mother after the abortion. Having been on probation with the medical board since 1988, Steir surrendered his license to practice medicine four months after Hamptlon's death. The defendants were denied a motion for a new trial based in part on Wilkinson's admission of evidence relating to the unborn child's viability. While Arizona law does not specify a date that a doctor cannot perform an abortion, it does prohibit abortions after viability -- usually 22 to 26 weeks. Stuart-Schadoff's attorney, Cameron Morgan, said he plans to file an appeal, claiming Stuart-Schadoff and Biskind should have been tried separately. Biskind was immediately taken into custody and will serve his time in the Maricopa County correctional system, run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Best known for his policies requiring inmates to eat discolored food, wear pink underwear and black-and-white striped uniforms. His "tent city" and both male and female chain gangs are a throw-back to prison practices of the early part of the 20th century -- practices that many observers say are necessary and preferable to the privileges -- such as cable television -- prisoners received in other facilities. In 1999, Arizona Right to Life was instrumental in passing a law regulating abortion facilities. Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona filed an injunction against the law where it still remains tied up in court. An informed consent law the group advocated during the most recent legislative session failed in the state Senate by one vote. "We will continue to work for legislation that informs women of the serious health risks and dangers associated with [abortion]," Wikfors said. "The last thing we want is another LouAnne Herron tragedy. One too many women have died at the hands of this industry and its time to pass critical legislation." -- Roe v. Wade: "Never Again" Never Was http://www.roevwade.org ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. 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