VietNamNet Bridge – An unlicensed doctor in the central province of Nghe An was fined VND50 million (US$2,200) for performing an unsafe abortion that killed a local woman.

Family member gather around the body of a woman that dies after having an unsafe abortion. Photo for illustrative purpose only. — Photo: VNN

The unlicensed doctor, Dinh Thi Thanh, 52, performed the abortion by placing a catheter into the woman’s uterus and fed her boiled katuk (Sauropus androgynus) water on March 12, Vietnamnetonline newspaper reported.

Two days later the woman died, after showing symptoms of numbness in half of her body, having difficulty breathing, vomiting, and losing consciousness.

Local officials said Thanh had only finished secondary school and possessed neither medical qualifications nor a medical license.

Thanh reportedly agreed to perform the abortion at the price of VND1.7 million ($75), as per the earlier request of the dead woman’s mother.

The woman, 32, was in her third month of pregnancy. She was said to have had two children. 

Source: VNS