Pregnant teen’s death under investigation

The Alameda County coroner’s office is investigating the case of an 18- year-old East Bay woman who died Wednesday, days after reportedly taking the abortion pill RU-486.

The victim’s father told The Chronicle that his 18-year-old daughter had gotten a prescription for RU-486 at a Planned Parenthood office in Hayward on Sept. 10 to end her seven-week pregnancy.

Planned Parenthood issued a statement Thursday night that it was working with the young woman’s family to look into the cause of death.

“A patient who recently sought health care services at a Planned Parenthood health care center died yesterday at a hospital in Pleasanton,” said Dian Harrison, chief executive officer and president of Planned Parenthood Golden Gate. “The cause of death is unknown at this time. . . . We extend our deepest sympathy to the family. We wish them strength and support in this tough time.”

Monty Patterson said his daughter Holly Patterson had visited Planned Parenthood in Hayward last Wednesday and on Saturday had begun taking drugs prescribed to end her pregnancy. Patterson’s daughter lived with him in Livermore and did not tell him about the pregnancy, he said.

“On Sunday, she was crying and crying, and she told me she was having cramps, that she had a bad period,” said Patterson, a home builder who said he had learned of the pregnancy only hours before his daughter died.

What an unfortunate and sad situation for this father. I’ve been involved in a discussion group of people discussion this very issue. Of course, the usual abortion debate ensued - - Pro-Life v. Pro-Choice. Of course, I got slammed for my response to it, because, my basic point was that, like it or not, abortion is legal in this country. The people in the discussion were targeting Planned Parenthood and how parental consent isn’t needed and how they are infringing on parental rights to know when something like this happens to their child. Planned Parenthood and the abortion pill being the cause of this woman’s death here - - rather than her inability to open her mouth and talk about what was going on with her.

Even IF parental consent would be required - - it would not have made a difference in this particular case. The ‘girl’ in question was actually a legal, adult woman at the age of 18 - she is no child anymore in the eyes of the law. For Planned Parenthood to have told that father - - it would have been a direct violation of the laws of patient privacy and confidentiality…because she was 18 years old, a legal adult and, legally, her own person. There were no ‘Parental Rights’ in this particular situation.

Agree that it is a very sad situation. However, the abortion pills, and conventional abortion procedures, carry with them risks as does any medical procedure that is invasive, in any way.

To go into septic shock is extremely serious - a condition that carries with it a lot of precursor signs and symptoms. I would imagine that this girl probably felt the signs coming on that something just ‘wasn’t right’ but may didn’t want to say anything to anyone about it because of the stigma attached to the procedure that she had done. She didn’t want anyone to know about it.

As an RN - I have treated quite a few girls/women who suffer from various STD’s. Some of the diseases went on for a year, or better, before they sought treatment, and some of these women suffered permanent damage as a result. Why? Because they were afraid to step forward and tell someone about what they were experiencing because of fear of judgement.

Personally, I say own what you do. If you do something that carries with it some negative ramifications - own it. Don’t hide from it. You were bold enough to do whatever it was you did that got you in this predicament to begin with - - now that there are consequences you need to own it and deal with it like a responsible person.

I don’t see it as Planned Parenthood’s responsibility to tell the parent of an 18 year old adult about a procedure that she had done, legally. What I find sad is the fact that this girl didn’t have the courage to tell someone, herself - - that she was so scared and frightened of the judgements that would be laid upon her by other people - - she kept it quiet, and eventually suffered the greatest cost of her own fear. Wow - that’s a helluva price to pay for being afraid of what people will think of you.