An Inclusive Litany
9/2/98
Deborah Gaines sued Boston's Preterm Health Services clinic, four
years after John Salvi III attacked the clinic in a brutal shootout
that left two people dead. Gaines, who witnessed the attack while she
was waiting for an appointment to have an abortion, did not reschedule
the procedure and instead gave birth to a daughter, Vivian, seven
months later. Her suit alleges that due to the post-traumatic stress
she suffered, Gaines was unable to return to a clinic setting, gave
birth against her original intentions, and thus deserves compensation
from the clinic for the cost of raising her daughter, who has learning
disabilities and is hyperactive. Gaines says she had to quit her job
and put her three other children into day care to take care of her
daughter's special needs, and she says she sought the abortion while
on welfare at a time when she wanted to take the GED and get her life
back together. Gaines alleges that the clinic should have had better
security following similar attacks upon abortion clinics. But alas, the
two guards on duty at the time have also sued the clinic, alleging
emotional trauma.