Mother of woman who died after abortion files wrongful death lawsuit

Keisha Marie Atkins, died after a botched late-term abortion she received at Southwestern Women’s Options in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Keisha, who was 23 years old, was believed to be about six months pregnant. Four days after her abortion, she was reportedly showing labored breathing and signs of sepsis, a life-threatening infection.

Keisha’s autopsy, however, left more questions than answers, laying the blame on pregnancy complications — not abortion complications — for Keisha’s death. Live Action News’ Susan Michelle previously reported on a suspected cover-up of the real reason for Keisha’s death. Several subpoenaed emails showed that “even Atkins’ emergency room physician questioned the real cause of Atkins’ death.” New Mexico Alliance for Life noted that “UNM Hospital Emergency Medicine physician, Dr. Trenton Wray, wrote, ‘Everything about her course was consistent with septic abortion→ refractory septic cardiomyopathy [heart failure due to infection] → death.'” Instead, Keisha’s “official” cause of death is listed on the autopsy as “Pulmonary Thromboembolism due to Pregnancy.”

READ: She died during a late-term abortion. Now, her mother wants answers.

Now, Keisha’s mother, Tina Atkins, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against three abortionists at Southwestern Women’s Options. New Mexico Alliance for Life reported in a press release:

Six abortionists including SWO’s doctors Carmen Landau, Shannon Carr and Curtis Boyd are named along with UNM abortion doctors Lily Bayat, Brenda [Pereda] and Lisa Hofler.  Bayat and Pareda are named specifically for their negligent referral of Atkins from the UNM Center for Reproductive Health abortion clinic to SWO.  Dr. Lisa Hofler, Assistant Clinic Director of the UNM Center for Reproductive Health clinic is also named in the lawsuit for delaying life-saving medical treatment for Atkins in the emergency room, once transferred to UNMH from SWO.

In addition, “The pathologist, Dr. Lauren Dvorscak of the UNM Office of the Medical Investigator is also named in the lawsuit for civil conspiracy in the cover-up of Atkins’ cause of death.”

Also, according to the press release, “The lawsuit seeks damages against both UNM and SWO for medical malpractice, wrongful death, and civil conspiracy. SWO is charged with violating the New Mexico Unfair Trade Practices Act for instructing women ‘do not go to the emergency room’, but rather, contact the clinic’s answering service for a medical emergency.”

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The lawsuit charges that the abortion facility “did not fully disclose risks and potential complications of the late-term abortion” to Keisha Atkins beforehand, including the fact that “late-term abortions carry a 91 times greater risk of death than first trimester abortions.”