Abortion Leaves Unborn Child's Hand in Mother

Source: Associated Press

Date: September 28

Denver ---- An acupuncturist has been charged with performing an illegal abortion on an 18-year-old woman who was admitted to a hospital with the unborn child's hand and umbilical cord protruding from her. Zhong Fu, 43, who is free on $100,000 bond, made a brief appearance in Denver District Court today to be advised of the charges against him. Prosecutors have filed four felony counts against Fu, including criminal abortion, second-degree assault, pretended criminal abortion and theft. According to court documents, Fu runs an acupuncture clinic out of a residential neighborhood in east Denver and is not a licensed physician, which is required in Colorado to perform abortions. The woman went to Fu on Sept. 2 and for $1,500, he said he would perform the abortion, even though the woman was 25 weeks pregnant. Two days later, the woman woke up vomiting and with "wild vaginal bleeding and cramping," according to the arrest warrant. She was admitted to a hospital in Colorado Springs 90 miles south of Denver in serious condition. The woman told medical personnel that Fu had "removed the baby." The physician who treated the woman told investigators the baby's umbilical cord was dangling from the mother and "the fetus' hand was protruding from the cervix." Police contacted Fu, who allegedly admitted he treated the woman but said the baby was already dead. He told police that he lied to her and pretended to perform the abortion because she threatened suicide. "[Fu] said he gives herbal drugs which makes his patients think it helps with the abortion. Mr. Fu said he knew it was a way to make easy money," according to the arrest affidavit. Several hypodermic needles and other steel medical instruments, along with $2,200 in cash, were seized from Fu's house, police said. The woman is recovering from the botched abortion, said Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney's office. Kimbrough said authorities believe there are other victims, but so far none have come forward. "We will put out notices in Asian-language papers for any other possible victims to come forward," she said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 24. If convicted of the all the charges, Fu faces a maximum of 22 years in prison.