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From a retired Ob/Gyn who trained on Chicago:
I was a medical student at Cook County Hospital in 1972, the year before abortion became legal. We had a 40 bed Septic Abortion Ward for complications of illegal abortions. The patients were all poor, mostly African-American,
I was a medical student at Cook County Hospital in 1972, the year before abortion became legal. We had a 40 bed Septic Abortion Ward for complications of illegal abortions. The patients were all poor, mostly African-American,
and desperate. My job as the medical student on the ward was to go around with a cart of IV antibiotics, hang the meds and check vitals. Also to notify the diener (morgue worker responsible for moving the corpse) when a patient died.
This ward closed the year after abortion became legal; there was no need any more. I fear we are heading toward reopening this type of facility at every hospital in a poor community.
