Abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell battling accusations he medicated woman according to ability to pay and ‘snipped babies’ necks’

In Philadelphia a heated trial for Dr. Kermit Gosnell got underway last week, and statements from Gosnell’s lawyer proves more fireworks are to come as he faces changes of killing seven babies born alive. Gosnell is charged in the drug overdose death of a 41-year-old patient who did not speak English and only weighed 100 pounds at death.

The March 24 article by KSDK/AP detail how the defense plans to attack the alleged gestational age of the babies and counter testimony made by his staff that “babies were routinely cut with scissors after delivery” by Gosnell.

Prosecutors allege that Gosnell’s untrained staff let patients pick between “local,” ”twilight,” ”heavy” or “custom” anesthesia based on how much they could pay. And they say he did little to monitor patients afterward, failing to utilize blood pressure cuffs, oxygen machines, a pulse monitor and other standard surgical equipment.

“All bets are off (without monitoring),” said Dr. Andrew Herlich, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Karnamaya Mongar, the woman who died at a hospital following two heavy doses of sedatives and narcotics during a 2009 abortion, despite signs of respiratory distress after the first dose. Hand written notes from Dr Gosnell confirmed the testimony.

Gosnell, 72, allegedly used cheaper, outmoded painkillers on patients, who paid anywhere from a few hundred dollars cash for a one-day, first-trimester abortion to nearly $3,000 for a three-day late-stage procedure.

Authorities found $250,000 in cash under a mattress when they raided his home in 2010, although they believe he also made significant sums through a separate “pill mill” at his street-corner clinic, where they say a steady stream of people sought painkiller prescriptions.

FBI Agent Jason Huff testified that agents found fetal bodies stored beside staff lunches in a refrigerator; jars containing the tiny feet of aborted fetuses; and rubber, disposable medical tubing waiting to be rinsed and reused.

Gosnell also faces federal drug distribution charges stemming from the FBI raid.

He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.