Rock For Life

Ohio Mother Sues Abortion Clinic Over Failed Abortion.

An Ohio mother of two has decided to sue an abortion clinic over the failed abortion of her daughter, a child she and her fiance have since called “miracle baby.”

Last year, when 22-year-old Ariel Knights was told by doctors that her pregnancy could be life-endangering, she made a decision to schedule an abortion. In March 2012, Knights scheduled an abortion through Akron Women’s Medical Group.In an interview with the Beacon Journal, Knights said the clinic’s atmosphere was dark, “Every seat was full. People were standing…It was pretty much like a slaughterhouse; it was like OK, next, next.” Knights full detail’s of the experience, found here, are rather shady and scary. She was dealt with in a very cold way, the deed was done and she was sent on her way. But a few days later, she began feeling ill and going through some serious physical pain. She eventually ended up going to the ER, where a doctor had some startling news for her and her fiance.

She was still pregnant.

Knights got in touch with the clinic where the abortion had occurred and the clinic denied her claims but suggested she could go to their other office in Cleveland. Knights decided to try a different clinic but they refused to perform the abortion, stating, they wouldn’t treat her for “somebody else’s mistake.” Knights decided to carry her baby to term after that.

It wouldn’t be an easy pregnancy. Knights had a medical condition that Knights said made the process risky and stressful. She was worried the failed abortion had weakened the baby and might mean the child’s death.

Knights had multiple hospital visits and bi-weekly ultrasound visits with a doctor who specialized in high-risk pregnancies. But Knights’ miracle baby, a little baby girl, was born in September.

Knights and her daughter suffered no complications during delivery. Knights is pursuing a lawsuit of 25,000 dollars for pain, suffering, and emotional distress. She said she is also hoping to find answers through the lawsuit. She and her fiance are happy to have their “miracle baby” though she is still suing for malpractice.  She told the Becon Journal, “I mean, it’s just hard, thinking she’s here and thinking, if they would have done their job… It’s just something I don’t like to think about.”

My commentary: The health of the mother is a very hard consideration to deal with when we are talking about abortion. When most people say they support abortion only in cases of the mother’s health, my experience has been that they don’t understand the difference between a life-saving operation and one that aims to end a life. Knights believed she was acting in her own life’s interest as well as that of the family she might leave behind. But an operation that saves a mother’s life and result’s in the baby’s death is one thing. An abortion, which tears apart and dismembers a baby’s body because of a health risk, is another thing. We need to keep that in mind when doctors encourage us (speaking as a woman, here) to abort our children. While I agree with Knights’ quest to find answers from a shady abortion clinic, money will not be able to fix the fact that her daughter was almost killed and clearly was meant to live. As pro-lifers though we must be careful when dealing with such a story. If anything, we need to be researching options for high-risk pregnancies and educating scared women on how they can save their life and their child’s life as well.