Police, Medical Examiner Investigating Woman’s Death, Possible Link to Abortion in Germantown

The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is investigating the death of a 29-year-old woman whom anti-abortion activists allege died after receiving an abortion at Germantown Reproductive Health Services.

The woman died Thursday at Shady Grove Hospital, according to the chief medical examiner’s office. The cause and manner of death was still pending.

“Any speculation at this point would be premature,” spokesman Bruce Goldfarb told Patch.

Montgomery County Police is coordinating with the medical examiner’s office on the investigation and is awaiting its report, a police spokeswoman told Patch on Monday.

Last week, Capt. Paul Starks, a police spokesman, told The Washington Post that there was “no indication of any criminal activity in this case.”

Representatives from the clinic did not respond to Patch’s requests for comment.

Anti-abortion protesters allege that the woman, whose identity has not been officially released, died at the hands of Dr. LeRoy Carhart days after she arrived at the clinic on Sunday.

Carhart is one of only a handful of doctors across the country to provide late-term abortions, which has made him one of the most visible targets of anti-abortion protesters. He began traveling to the family planning clinic in Germantown to provide his services in 2010 after Nebraska outlawed abortions performed after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Ever since, protestors have kept a weekly vigil outside clinic. Abortion-rights advocates have also held rallies and vigils in support of the clinic. They said Carhart offers women access to legitimate care.

Michael Martelli, executive director of Maryland Coalition for Life, has called on the Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene to close the clinic during the investigation and has asked the Maryland Board of Physicians to suspend or revoke Carhart’s license, The Washington Post reports.

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Related stories:

Maryland officials probe possible abortion link in woman’s death (The Washington Post)
Germantown enters the spotlight in national abortion debate (Germantown Patch)
Photo Gallery: A Prayerful Protest (Germantown Patch)
Carhart Anniversary Marked by Protest (Germantown Patch)
An Interview with LeRoy Carhart (Germantown Patch)