Kermit Gosnell, Convicted Philadelphia Abortion Doctor, Dies in Prison
Kermit Gosnell, the convicted Philadelphia abortion doctor, has died in prison at age 85. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections confirmed his death after he was admitted to a hospital from State Correctional Institution Smithfield.
Custody and circumstances of death
Gosnell was held at SCI Smithfield in Huntingdon County before his hospital transfer. Officials did not identify the hospital. The exact date and cause of death were not immediately released.
Initial reporting
The news was first reported by filmmakers and journalists Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer. They co-authored a 2017 book about the case.
2010 clinic raid and findings
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Women’s Medical Society in February 2010. The clinic was located at 3801 Lancaster Avenue in the Mantua section of West Philadelphia.
A 281-page grand jury report described the premises as deplorable and unsanitary. Investigators found fetal remains stored in cabinets and a freezer. The report used the phrase “baby charnel house” to describe the site.
Allegations and charges
Authorities alleged Gosnell performed a practice called “snipping,” severing newborns’ spinal cords after live births. Prosecutors said the acts occurred in the sixth through eighth months of pregnancy and happened repeatedly over years.
In January 2011, he was arrested and initially charged in connection with seven infants who were born alive and with the death of a patient. Records said many potential crimes could not be prosecuted because documentation had been destroyed.
Patient death and criminal verdicts
The patient who died was identified as Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old woman from Bhutan. She died in 2009 after receiving excessive anesthetic during a procedure.
In May 2013, a Philadelphia jury found Gosnell guilty of three counts of first-degree murder. The jury also convicted him of involuntary manslaughter for Mongar’s death. He was further found guilty on counts of illegal late-term abortions and multiple violations of the state’s 24-hour waiting period.
Sentences and federal plea
Gosnell faced the death penalty but was sentenced to three consecutive life terms by a state court. In July 2013 he pleaded guilty in federal court to operating a pill mill. That plea carried a separate 30-year federal sentence.
Earlier career and controversies
Raised in West Philadelphia, Gosnell graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1966. He briefly worked in New York City before opening clinics in West Philadelphia, including a methadone clinic.
In 1972, he was linked to complications from an experimental abortion device called the “super coil.” Fifteen women had been treated, and nine later suffered serious complications. He was not criminally charged in that incident.
Public response and legacy
The verdict drew reactions across the political spectrum. Some advocates said the case highlighted dangers patients face when options are limited. Others argued the crimes reflected broader concerns about the abortion industry.
Then-District Attorney Seth Williams called Gosnell a monster. Defense counsel maintained that Gosnell did not view his acts as homicide. Jury foreman David Misko later said the case centered on murder and exploitation of vulnerable patients and staff.
Filmogaz.com will continue to follow any official updates about the circumstances of his death and related records released by authorities.
