Life Links 3/2/11

Pennsylvania prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell and considering seeking it for some of his former employees. Gosnell's assets, including a 900K home, have also been frozen.

Assistant District Attorneys Joanne Pescatore and Christine Wechsler confirmed that the death penalty is under review for former Gosnell employees Lynda Williams, 42, of Wilmington; Steven Massof, 48, of Pittsburgh; and Adrienne Moton, 33, of Upper Darby.

All three are accused of aiding Gosnell in seven abortions in which infants were born live and viable - and then allegedly killed by the 70-year-old physician.

The prosecutors, however, said they had agreed with the defense attorneys for the three to postpone a final decision on the death penalty for 60 days while both sides continue investigating the case.

Pescatore said the delay was not an indication that prosecutors were trying to negotiate a guilty plea in which they would testify against Gosnell.

"We didn't know enough and they might want to tell us more things," Pescatore said, referring to the 60-day extension.

Not so for Gosnell himself. Prosecutors officially notified defense attorney Jack McMahon that they will seek death by lethal injection if a jury finds Gosnell guilty of first-degree murder in the abortions that took place at his Women's Medical Society clinic at 3801 Lancaster Ave.

The Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline had suspended the license of abortionist Albert Dworkin for failing to report the actions of co-worker Kermit Gosnell. Arturo Apolinario gets to keep his license for now.

A request for the emergency suspension of a second doctor, Arturo Apolinario, was turned down, but an expedited hearing to review charges against him is going forward and Apolinario's ability to write prescriptions was suspended Tuesday.

A Utah legislator wants his state to inspect abortion clinics twice a year, one inspection being a surprise inspection.

He testified,

“We have one abortion clinic in Salt Lake City which, according to the Health Department, has not been inspected and has not had a Health Department worker go out in over two years."