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Ozelia Skains

Ozelia Skains, a 24-year-old telephone operator from Texas, was found dead on a street in Oak Park, Illinois, on March 8, 1954.

Her family sued Dr. John C. Gobischel, a 26-year-old chiropractor, and his friend, George J. Malek. They were both also arraigned for murder by attempted abortion.

Ozelia's abortion was atypical of illegal abortions in that it was not performed by a physician.

During the 1950s, we see an anomaly: Though maternal mortality had been falling during the first half of the 20th Century, and abortion mortality in particular had been plummeting, the downward trend slowed, then reversed itself briefly. I have yet to figure out why. For more, see Abortion Deaths in the 1950's.

For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion

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