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Did University Help Cover-Up Fatal Botched Abortion? One Lawsuit Says Yes


— September 17, 2018

A wrongful death lawsuit was recently filed against the University of New Mexico (UNM) and abortionist Curtis Boyd by the sister and mother of 23-year-old Keisha Marie Atkins. Atkins passed away in February 2017 during a late-term abortion, and now her mother and sister want justice against the parties who allegedly covered up the cause of her death.


A wrongful death lawsuit was recently filed against the University of New Mexico (UNM) and abortionist Curtis Boyd by the family of 23-year-old Keisha Marie Atkins. Atkins passed away in February 2017 during a late-term abortion, and now her mother and sister want justice against the parties who allegedly covered up the cause of her death.

In February 2017, Atkins sought a “24-week abortion from late-term abortionist Curtis Boyd at Southwestern Women’s Options (SWO).” She arrived at the clinic on January 31 to “begin the abortion process, and returned on February 3 displaying labored breathing and signs of the life-threatening infection sepsis.” As a result, she was rushed to the operating room to complete the abortion process, when involved “delivering her baby stillborn after a lethal injection.” Shortly after, Atkins went into cardiac arrest and was transported to the University of New Mexico hospital. Unfortunately, she died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Image of Redondo Village, a Residence Hall at UNM
Redondo Village, a Residence Hall at UNM; image courtesy of
PerryPlanet via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org

The suit names “Boyd, SWO, UNM Health Systems, the UNM Board of Regents, the UNM Health Sciences Center, and pathologist Dr. Lauren Dvorscak” as defendants. Among the allegations, the plaintiffs argue that “SWO violated New Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices Act by instructing Atkins not to contact or consult any medical facility, hospital, doctor, emergency room or nurse outside of employees, agents and/or staff of the SWO clinic.” Additionally, the suit alleges that Dvorscak participated with a “cover-up of Atkins’ true cause of death by writing a report listing the cause of death as ‘natural’ due to pregnancy.”

When commenting on the case, Michael Seibel, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said:

“Keisha Atkins’ medical treatment was a series of negligence and malpractice which ultimately led to her untimely death – these actions were compounded by the fact that she was instructed to not seek emergency room care by Southwestern doctors. We also have reason to believe that these parties conspired with UNM’s Medical Investigator to conceal the cause of death from the abortion in order to protect each other’s interests and long-standing relationships.”

Ever since Atkins’ death, there have been many questions and concerns circulating amongst not only her family but other medical professionals and organizations. For example, Operation Rescue has and continues to be curious about “Akins ultimately reached the hospital, as SWO called an ambulance at 12:04 p.m. on February 3, but then canceled it.” Additionally, earlier this year, New Mexico Alliance for Life (NMAL) accessed emails “in which UNM Health officials question the autopsy report.” In the emails, UNM Health Emergency Medicine Dr. Trenton Wray wrote, “Everything about her course was consistent with septic abortion → refractory septic cardiomyopathy → death.”

In addition to the emails, the New Mexico Medical Board launched an investigation into Boyd earlier this year in March after it determined the allegations against him warranted “further formal review to determine whether the licensee is in violation of the Medical Practice Act.”

For those who don’t know, Boyd is a former Baptist minister. In the past, he admitted, “Am I killing? Yes, I am. I know that.” Prior to Roe v. Wade, he was responsible for committing illegal abortions.

Sources:

Family of woman killed in botched abortion files wrongful death suit against abortionist, university

Botched Abortion Lawsuit Alleges UNM Hospital Cover-Up

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