Lawsuit alleges Illinois abortion doctor left half a fetus inside Indiana patient, requiring emergency surgery
An Indiana abortion patient has accused a Champaign, Illinois, physician of perforating her uterus during the procedure and leaving half of a fetus inside her body, requiring emergency surgery afterward, according to a recent lawsuit.
The medical negligence lawsuit was filed March 21 in the Circuit Court of Champaign County against abortion provider Dr. Keith Reisinger-Kindle of Equity Clinic by a woman identified as Jane Doe, according to court records.
Reisinger-Kindle did not immediately return Chicago Tribune requests for comment on the lawsuit.
The patient, a mother of four, was about 22 weeks pregnant when she traveled to the clinic for a two-day procedure that ended April 2, 2023, the complaint states. Reisinger-Kindle said in his notes that the 'products of conception were visually inspected and confirmed to be complete,' after the abortion and the patient was discharged, the lawsuit stated.
But the next day, the woman called the clinic to report heavy cramping and she was advised to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, according to the complaint. About five hours later, she called the clinic again saying she had taken Ibuprofen with limited relief and that she was feeling pressure and that it was hard to breathe. That message was relayed to Reisinger-Kindle, who advised her to take a laxative, according to the complaint.
The patient called a third time, saying she took two doses of a laxative but the abdominal cramping increased, the suit said. She was advised to take an enema and 'consider presenting at an urgent care facility or to an emergency room,' the lawsuit stated.
On April 4, 2023, the patient was admitted to the emergency room of Community Hospital South in Indianapolis where the fetal remains were discovered and surgically removed from her pelvis, according to the complaint. Parts of the fetal skull had adhered to her intestines and were taken out, the lawsuit said.
A hole in her uterus roughly the size of a quarter or half-dollar was also treated, according to the complaint.
The day after, Reisinger-Kindle would not answer questions or provide information to a surgeon who had assisted with the surgery, allegedly claiming lack of consent from the patient, the lawsuit states. However, when he spoke to the woman later that day, he did not request permission to discuss the abortion with the surgeon, the suit contends.
A report by an obstetrician-gynecologist included in the court filings stated that 'had Dr. Kindle performed an adequate exam of the remains, it should have been obvious that fetal parts were left behind.'
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and more than $50,000 in damages.
Reisinger-Kindle and Equity Clinic were profiled in a June 2023 Tribune story about a wave of new abortion providers coming to Illinois from other states after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending federal abortion rights.
'The only reason I went to medical school was to be an abortion provider,' Reisinger-Kindle told the Tribune, adding that providing abortions has a greater impact on the lives of patients than delivering babies.
'Everyone's excited about a baby,' he had said. 'People in this space, unfortunately, are often shunned and shamed and really stigmatized. In this space, one person saying, 'You're strong, this is a hard choice but we're here with you,' is life-changing. Because you're probably the only person giving them that message.'
Equity Clinic was founded in February 2023 by Reisinger-Kindle, who at the time was based in Ohio and had been traveling roughly 500 miles round-trip from Dayton to provide medication and surgical abortions in Champaign on the weekends.
Reisinger-Kindle has been licensed in Illinois since 2022 and has never been disciplined, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. He had been licensed in Ohio from 2020 to 2024 and had never been disciplined there, according to Ohio state records.
As of mid-2023, roughly 95% of Equity Clinic's patients traveled there from other states, Reisinger-Kindle had told the Tribune.
Out-of-state abortion patients have skyrocketed in Illinois since the end of Roe, amid increasing abortion restrictions and bans in other states. Roughly 37,350 patients from other states came to Illinois to have an abortion in 2023 — the first full year since the end of federal abortion rights — more than triple the nearly 11,150 in 2020, according to estimates from the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-reproductive rights research group.
That was more out-of-state abortion patients than any other state in the nation that year, the data showed.
_____
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Health Line
20 hours ago
- Health Line
The Link Between Ibuprofen and Ulcers
Long-term ibuprofen use can increase your risk of bleeding and ulcers in your stomach and intestines. If you take ibuprofen regularly, you can take steps to prevent peptic ulcers and protect stomach health. Peptic ulcers are slow-healing sores that can develop in your stomach lining, the beginning or top part of your small intestines (duodenum), or your esophagus. If you have a peptic ulcer, you'll usually experience some degree of abdominal pain. This pain can range from mild to severe and tends to come and go. Some people describe this pain as dull, while for others, it has more of a burning sensation. You might feel this pain anywhere from your belly button to your chest. Other symptoms include: Peptic ulcers can develop for a few reasons. One common cause is the frequent use of nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin. Another is infection. Read on to learn how ibuprofen affects your stomach and what you can do to lower your risk of ulcers. Can ibuprofen cause stomach ulcers? Your body produces hormones called prostaglandins, which help heal tissue damage and injury, play a role in ovulation and labor, and help gut muscles contract and relax. These hormones also benefit your stomach in two main ways. They help repair and heal any damage to the lining of your stomach. They also protect your stomach from damage through the production of stomach mucus, which helps counter the effects of the stomach acid that helps break down your food. Stomach acid is very strong — strong enough to wear down your teeth and bones. If your body doesn't produce enough prostaglandins, this acid can easily damage your stomach lining. This is where ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can pose a danger. If you have an infection or injury, your body produces prostaglandins to help you heal. In some cases, though, your body may produce too much of these hormones. High levels of prostaglandins can lead to pain, swelling, and other inflammation. Ibuprofen relieves these symptoms by reducing the amount of prostaglandins your body can produce. But over time, the drop in prostaglandins can leave your stomach more vulnerable to damage. Ulcers don't develop overnight You probably won't develop an ulcer after taking ibuprofen for a few days in a row. Still, regular doses of ibuprofen daily for weeks or months will increase your chances of developing a peptic ulcer. take ibuprofen with other NSAIDs take ibuprofen with some other medications, such as corticosteroids, blood thinners, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have a history of stomach ulcers have an H. pylori infection are older than 65 have three or more servings of alcohol a day smoke cigarettes Reducing your risk Most people can safely take ibuprofen to relieve short-term symptoms, such as fever, menstrual cramps, or body aches and pains. When taking ibuprofen or any other medication, you can reduce your risk of unwanted side effects by reading the label and following the directions closely. These tips can also help lower your chances of developing an ulcer: Take the smallest possible dose: Does your medication bottle say, 'Take 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours?' It never hurts to start with one tablet and pay attention to your symptoms before taking more. Avoid taking too many doses: When taking ibuprofen around the clock to relieve pain that remains for a few days, like menstrual cramps, it may help to set a timer for each dose. If you take your next dose too soon, you may take more ibuprofen than planned and exceed the daily recommendation. Take ibuprofen for no more than a few days at a time: If you have persistent fever, aches, or other symptoms, it may be worth asking your healthcare professional about other options for treating your pain. Keep in mind, too, that NSAIDs to treat migraine pain and other headaches could lead to medication overuse headaches. Medications that help prevent peptic ulcers Many people take ibuprofen regularly to treat arthritis and other conditions that cause chronic pain and inflammation. If you need to take an NSAID long term, consider asking your doctor about medication to help protect against ulcers. The following medications could make a difference: proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which help lower stomach acid production H2 blockers, which also help lower stomach acid production misoprostol, which helps boost the production of stomach mucus These medications may not work well for everyone and may cause some side effects, including constipation and diarrhea. Also, long-term use of PPIs may increase your risk of fractures and infection. Your care team can offer more guidance on whether these medications are a good option for you. Bottom line Most people won't get an ulcer from taking ibuprofen occasionally, especially when sticking to the dosing directions on the label. Taking several doses of ibuprofen a day for a few weeks or longer may raise your risk of peptic ulcers, especially if you take other NSAIDs at the same time. If you use ibuprofen to manage ongoing pain and inflammation, a good next step involves asking a doctor about medications that can lower your ulcer risk. They can also offer more guidance on other options for pain relief.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Ambulance rides in San Diego just got more expensive — this is why
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — For the fifth year in a row, the City of San Diego is raising its ambulance transport fees — this time by 18% over the next three years. But city leaders insist: most patients won't be impacted. The San Diego City Council approved the increase unanimously Tuesday, pushing the total hike since 2021 to just over 32%, according to reporting from The San Diego Union-Tribune. The cost for the most advanced level of ambulance service will rise from $3,151 to $3,717. Despite the eye-popping numbers, city officials say the increase will mostly impact insurance companies, not patients. Only about 11% of ambulance patients — those with private insurance — may be affected, The San Diego Union-Tribune also reported. Patients with Medicare, Medi-Cal or no insurance won't see any change, thanks to a state law — AB 716 — that caps those charges at fixed rates. Celebrities spotted running in San Diego's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Councilmember Marni von Wilpert emphasized the hikes are tied to increasing costs from the city's private ambulance providers — Falck USA and American Medical Response (AMR) — who are billing the city $4.7 million more this coming fiscal year. 'We need to make sure we are doing the most competitive cost containment for our residents and delivering the best service,' von Wilpert said. The rising fees come as the city reconsiders how it runs emergency medical services. While a recent partnership with Falck and AMR has been financially successful, city leaders are exploring whether to bring ambulance services in-house — something cities like Los Angeles and, more locally, Chula Vista have already done. The San Diego Union-Tribune noted that Fire Chief Robert Logan said any move toward a city-run ambulance service would start slowly, possibly beginning with low-level emergency calls, while private companies continue handling life-threatening situations. In a twist, this year's rate hike — like last year's — skipped a required committee review before heading to the full council. That move appears to violate council policy, though no council member appeared to raise concerns during the vote. As the debate over who should run San Diego's ambulances continues, one thing's clear: the cost of care is rising — even if most patients won't see the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
He Promised to Show His 2-Year-Old Daughter Christmas Lights — Instead, He Set Her on Fire. Now, He's Dead in Prison
Shawn Ryan Grell, 50, died on April 19 at ASPC-Tucson facility, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry He was convicted of dousing his two-year-old daughter with gasoline and setting her on fire His cause of death has yet to be reportedAn Arizona man who was serving a life sentence for pouring gasoline on his two-year-old daughter and setting her on fire has died in prison. Shawn Ryan Grell, 50, died on April 19 at ASPC-Tucson facility, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry. 'All inmate deaths are investigated in consultation with the county medical examiner's office,' the department said. It's unclear how the inmate died. Grell picked up his daughter Kristen Salem from her daycare in Dec. 1999 with a plan to take her to see Christmas lights, the East Valley Tribune the twosome drove to a department store in Mesa where he purchased a gas can and then bought some gas. He then drove to a remote desert area in east Mesa before placing his daughter on the ground and setting her on fire, according to the Tribune. The girl crawled about 10 feet before she died, prosecutors said, per He was convicted of first-degree murder and robbery in connection to her killing in 2001 and sentenced to death. However in 2013, his death sentence was commuted after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that he had mental retardation, reported. He was sentenced to life in prison. Read the original article on People
