RELEASE: ILLINOIS RIGHT TO LIFE STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF IMPRISONED ABORTIONIST KERMIT GOSNELL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2026
Contact Information:
Mary Kate Zander
President
Illinois Right to Life
P: 312-422-9300
E: info@illinoisrighttolife.org
Illinois Right to Life Statement on the Death of Imprisoned Abortionist Kermit Gosnell
CHICAGO, IL — Today, Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell died in prison. For decades, Gosnell's dangerous, filthy clinic was allowed to operate with impunity. As the Grand Jury in his criminal trial – where he was convicted of murdering a pregnant woman and three viable babies born alive – reported, the National Abortion Federation inspected his clinic and found multiple health and safety violations. The Grand Jury noted:
"We have to question why an evaluator from NAF, whose stated mission is to ensure safe, legal, and acceptable abortion care, and to promote health and justice for women, did not report Gosnell to authorities."
Because Illinois does not regularly inspect the State's many abortion clinics, women who travel here for abortions, or who live here, are at risk for substandard care. Even those citizens who support legal abortion want abortion to be "safe," – at least for the mother.
We have already seen the gruesome case of Dr. Keith Risinger-Kindle of Champaign's "Equity Clinic," who is currently being sued for allegedly leaving 2/3 of the remains of a 22-week-old fetus inside the abdomen of its mother. (Champaign doctor who performed unsafe abortion is issued fine, reprimand)
And the equally gruesome case of Dr. Ulrich Kopfler, who was discovered to have hoarded the remains of thousands of unborn children he aborted on the property of his home. (Doctor Who Kept Fetuses is Vilified in Life and Death)
We are calling upon Governor Pritzker to put the health and safety of women FIRST, and to reinstate regular, intentional, and thorough inspection of Illinois' abortion clinics.
It took the death of a woman in Gosnell's clinic for law enforcement to act. Please, Governor Pritzker, don't sacrifice pregnant women on the altar of choice.
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