March 7, 2007 Embargo: Immediate release Dr Anne Speckhard, a professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School, Washington DC, USA, will lead a team of experts who will give evidence in the Durban High Court on behalf of Crystal Osler (now 21 years) who was subjected to an illegal abortion at 28 weeks in 2004 while in her Matric year at Danville High School. Crystal and her parents, with Doctors for Life as co-plaintiff, are suing the school who arranged the abortion behind her parents back, and the Rose clinic, where the abortion took place, for R 500,000 damages. In 2006 the clinic staff was convicted of 2000 criminal offences relating to similar illegal abortions as a result of information provided by Doctors for Life. As a result of the abortion, Crystal gave birth to a son who lived for four hours. The experts will highlight the serious health risks which Crystal faces as a result of the abortion - namely, post traumatic stress disorder which may occur many years later in the case of abortion, difficulties in future child-birth, and an increased risk of breast cancer. The case opens on MONDAY, APRIL 16 2007, and is set down to last 5 days. Advocates Alistair Dickson, SC and Dieter Achtzehn will represent Crystal and the other Plaintiffs. The Attorneys are Van Lingen of Durban. ‘Doctors for Life International’ represents more than 1000 medical doctors and specialists, three-quarters of who practice in South Africa. DFL was founded as a South African organisation in 1991 and has spread across the globe. DFL is involved in several community projects including orphan care, the care of terminal AIDS patients, malaria treatment and the care of abused women. Court Cases |