Toward the end of author Kenneth Edelin’s book reading last night, a pro-life activist accused the Boston University professor emeritus of murder.
Edelin – who was convicted of manslaughter of a fetus after performing a second-trimester abortion on a 17-year-old girl at Boston City Hospital in the 1970s – urged his audience at Barnes ‘ Noble at Boston University to fight to protect the standards upheld by the 1973 landmark case Roe v. Wade.
After the outburst, many of the roughly 100 medical students in attendance yelled “shame on you” at the women’s rights activist, showing their support of Edelin, who spoke of his experiences in facing the charges years ago, as detailed in his new book, Broken Justice.
Edelin, a black obstetrician-gynecologist who taught at the School of Medicine, said his book chronicles his experiences in the post-Roe v. Wade 1970s after he was charged with manslaughter and then found guilty before an all-white, all-Catholic jury of 13 men and three women.
“My dream of becoming an obstetrician-gynecologist was shattered,” he said.
The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts overturned the decision following an appeal, and Edelin soon returned to gynecology. He continues to perform abortions today.
Edelin said it is important for women to obtain abortions “legally, safely and with dignity.”
“A lot of women in the world die today because of unsafe, illegal abortions,” he said.
Though tensions rose between the pro-choice and pro-life members of the audience, both sides said they agreed that Edelin’s indictment was unfair.
“I’m pro-life,” said second-year MED student Danielle Andrews. “But he didn’t break the law.”
“[Edelin] stands for all physicians. . . . Pro-choice or pro-life, we future doctors need to stick together,” said third-year MED student Terese Watkins.
Event coordinator Jeanne Haight said she asked Edelin to speak because “whether you believe abortion is right or wrong, you still have to abide by the law and not try to subvert it.”
Edelin said Roe v. Wade is in danger of being revoked, charging his audience with the “obligation and responsibility” to keep the decision alive for future generations.
“Unless we decide,” Edelin said, “unless you decide to fight for you and the women after you, then Roe v. Wade will be lost.”