Ada Williams, Illegal Abortion Death

Ada Williams, Illegal Abortion Death

Abortion blamed on Colorado doctor

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Food for Thought

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Some time in 1917, Mrs. Ada Williams of Denver died of a botched abortion.

Dr. Noble O. Hamilton was convicted in her death.

Note, please, that with issues such as doctors not using proper aseptic techniques, lack of access to blood transfusions and antibiotics, and overall poor health to begin with, there was likely little difference between the performance of a legal abortion and illegal practice, and the aftercare for either type of abortion was probably equally unlikely to do the woman much, if any, good. For more information about early 20th Century abortion mortality, see Abortion Deaths 1910-1919.

For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

Source: State News, San Juan Prospector, Rio Grande County, CO, March 24, 1917