Irish American teacher died after abortion at 33 weeks - pro life groups demand action

Jennifer McKenna Morbelli dies shortly after receiving a late-term abortion

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Jennifer McKenna Morbelli, pictured with her husband, TJ, passed away after getting a late-term abortion in a Maryland clinic

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The death of 29 year old Jennifer McKenna Morbelli just days after her late-term abortion in Maryland has resulted in both  pro-life and pro-choice activists speaking out.

Huffington Post reports that McKenna Morbelli, a teacher from New Rochelle, NY, had visited a Germantown, MD abortion clinic to begin a several-day procedure to terminate her 33 week pregnancy last week.

McKenna Morbelli’s fetus was determined to have abnormalities, forcing her and her husband TJ to decide to abort the pregnancy. However, since the abnormalities were not life or health threatening to Jennifer, a late-term abortion could not be performed in New York.

A resident of New York, McKenna Morbelli had to travel to Maryland where it is legal to perform late term abortions if there are foetal abnormalities in non-life threatening circumstances. LeRoy Carhart performed the abortion.

Carhart gained national attention when in 2005 another patient of his died after undergoing a similar procedure.

Read more: Savita Halappanavar’s family distraught after draft report into her death is leaked to media

Just four days after her procedure, McKenna Morbelli was admitted to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Maryland after complaining of chest pains and other discomforts. The 29 year old died a few hours later from internal bleeding into her abdominal cavity.

In the wake of her death, pro life groups are calling for Maryland’s legislation regarding late term abortion to be reformed, and for Carhart’s facilities to be closed.

Michael Martelli, executive director for the Maryland Coalition for Life, said, “It is so tragic that this family had to lose not only their nearly full-term child, but also their wife, daughter, and sister.”

“What is most appalling is that the state of Maryland refused to hear the pleas of the community, and has allowed [Carhart] to butcher women and children.”

McKenna Morbelli’s memorial service on Monday and press conference also set the stage for Martelli to call upon the Maryland State Legislature to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which has already been introduced in both the House and Senate and looks to ban late-term abortions, except in cases where a mother's life or health is at risk.

Where the Maryland Coalition for Life is calling for reform, pro-choice groups such as NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland are expressing their condolences while remaining steadfast in their belief that women have the right to choose.

Read more health and medical news here

“We are keeping a close eye on the details of this situation as they come to light, and, as always, our concern is first and foremost for the safety and health of women," Amber Banks, outreach and communications coordinator for NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland, wrote in a statement to The Huffington Post.

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