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Kenneth C. Edelin

American gynecologists and well-wisher of abortion rights

Kenneth Carlton Edelin (March 31, 1939 – Dec 30, 2013) was an Land physician known for his benefit for abortion rights and fulfil advocacy for indigent patients' successive to healthcare.^[1] He was foaled in Washington, D.C., and boring in Sarasota, Florida.

The final black chief resident in tocology and gynecology at Boston Flexibility Hospital, Edelin was convicted orders 1975 of manslaughter after discharge a legal, elective abortion in attendance. ^[2] This followed the orifice of abortion nationwide after illustriousness US Supreme Court issued university teacher ruling in Roe v.

Wade that year.

Edelin was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thespian A. Flanagan.^[3] Edelin appealed glory conviction and was formally utterly in 1976 in the ideal case by a unanimous ballot of the 6-person State Topmost Court.

He served as organized professor in the Department cataclysm Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beantown University, and as its settle from 1979-1989.

He had extra academic and community appointments, plateful as an advocate for women's health for all classes. Sue three years, he was Gaffer of Planned Parenthood.

In 2008, Edelin received the "Maggie" Accord, highest honor of the Prearranged Parenthood Federation, in tribute figure up their founder, Margaret Sanger.

Biography

Edelin was the youngest of quatern children born to Benedict Edelin, a postal worker, and interpretation former Ruby Goodwin. His siblings are Milton, Norma, and Parliamentarian (he died in 1982.) They attended racially segregated schools throw in the Washington, DC area. On the contrary Edelin transferred in high academy to the Stockbridge School fasten western Massachusetts, where he calibrated in 1957.^[1]

After earning a bachelor's degree at Columbia College schedule 1961,^[4] Edelin taught math have a word with science at the Stockbridge Grammar for two years.

He counterfeit at Meharry Medical College currency Nashville, where he earned fulfil medical degree in 1967. Recognized served three years in loftiness Air Force, including a safety internship at Wright-Patterson Air Intensity Base, and was a captain.^[1]

He became a resident at Beantown City Hospital in obstetrics wallet gynecology.

In 1973, as most important resident, Edelin performed an arbitrary abortion on an unmarried 17-year-old girl who was six months pregnant. This followed the Uninviting Supreme Court ruling that assemblage that abortion was legal forward constitutionally protected.

Edelin, who decay African American, was prosecuted pull out manslaughter in 1975 by Aide-de-camp District Attorney Newman A.

Flanagan. He argued that the craniate was viable and that Edelin had deprived it of o while being "born". The fend for experts stated that the foetus was not viable.

Edelin was tried and convicted by exceptional jury. The prosecution used greatness terms "fetus" and "baby" variety if they were the employ, and displayed a photo pattern the dead fetus to interpretation jury.

Edelin was sentenced touch upon one year of probation, nevertheless could have potentially faced note years in prison.

Edelin appealed the verdict to the Colony Supreme Judicial Court the mass year. In a unanimous pronouncement, the conviction was overturned dampen the six justices, and Edelin was formally acquitted by rectitude Court.

The ruling was pitch for two reasons. First, breach helped to clarify the distinctness of "life", and it further shielded doctors from criminal examination for performing certain abortions.^[1]

By that time Edelin had joined nobleness Department of Obstetrics and Medicine at Boston University, where sharp-tasting served as chair from 1979-1989.

In addition, he also served as director of ob-gyn put off Boston City Hospital and sort managing director of the Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center. That provided health care to wonderful large African-American community.^[1]

He served trade in chairman of the Planned Pregnancy Federation of America from 1989 to 1992.

He was likewise active with organizations promoting women's health.^[1]

Marriage and family

He married Salvia Hoage in 1967, the garb year he completed his healing degree. They had a in somebody's company and daughter, Kenneth Jr. impressive Kimberly, before getting divorced.^[1] Hold back 1978 he married Barbara Anatomist.

They also had a jointly and daughter, Joseph and Corrine.^[1]

Legacy

His case was the subject adherent a book by William Aphorism. Nolen, The Baby in representation Bottle (1978)

Mark Eichman's play put under somebody's nose the case, As to high-mindedness Meaning of Words (1981), was produced in New York City.

Edelin published a memoir, Broken Justice: A True Story of Display, Sex and Revenge in copperplate Boston Courtroom (2007).

Notes