News in brief - Jan. 31, 2011

Philadelphia doctor charged in abortion-related slayings

A Philadelphia physician killed seven babies with scissors after delivering them and one abortion patient who went into cardiac arrest because of an analgesic overdose, prosecutors charged in January.

Kermit Gosnell, MD, faces charges of murder, performing illegal late-term abortions and violating the Controlled Substances Act.

Dr. Gosnell made a practice of performing abortions after 24 weeks' gestation, which is illegal in Pennsylvania, delivering babies live and then killing them by cutting their spinal cords with scissors, according to the charges filed by prosecutors (www.phila.gov/districtattorney/grandjury_womensmedical.html).

Authorities said nine employees were indicted on charges that included murder, racketeering and conspiracy in helping Dr. Gosnell carry out his alleged crimes at the Women's Medical Society clinic he operated.

Dr. Gosnell, 69, employed staff with no formal medical training to administer drugs to induce labor, according to the charges. He also was charged with abuse of corpses for storing dead babies, aborted fetuses and severed babies' feet in plastic jugs and glass jars, prosecutors said.

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Report: Physician shortage in New York endangers care

A dearth of doctors is threatening patient care in New York, and the problem will worsen as older physicians retire and demand for services grows under health system reform, a new report says.

The state is short 1,000 physicians, according to the Healthcare Assn. of New York State, a nonprofit organization representing health care networks and hospitals, which released the report Jan. 14. Hospitals in the state have a hard time attracting new physicians, and 27% of practicing doctors are older than 60. An estimated 1.2 million New York residents will gain health coverage under the health reform law, according to the report (www.hanys.org/communications/publications/2011/2011-01-10_physician_survey_results_2010_electronic.pdf).

"Virtually every community has been impacted by these shortages, and this study suggests the impact will become more pronounced in coming years unless we make our state and our health care facilities more attractive to qualified physicians," said association president Daniel Sisto.

This content was published online only.

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