Abortion Dr. Kermit Gosnell Found Guilty of Murder; Prosecutors Are Expected To Seek Death Penalty

After deliberating for 10 days on the case, a jury has found abortion Dr. Kermit Gosnell guilty of three counts of first degree murder. Prosecutors contended that the 72-year-old killed four premature babies after they were born alive in his Philadelphia clinic, and are now expected to seek the death penalty for Gosnell.

Gosnell was also found guilty in the accidental death of a patient, who died after receiving an abortion and a mix of sedatives and painkillers at his clinic. A 2010 federal investigation described his West Philadelphia clinic as an unsanitary "house of horrors" that primarily served low-income women seeking late-term abortions. The nearly 300-page grand jury report said remains of fetuses were stored in freezers and that instruments used in abortions were contaminated with sexually transmitted diseases.

Gosnell faced hundreds of lesser charges, including employing a minor in his clinic and violating the state's 24-hour waiting period for abortions. He's also charged with performing abortions on women who were more than 24 weeks pregnant, which is illegal in the state of Pennsylvania. The resignation of two top health department officials came from the discovery that Pennsylvania abortion clinics hadn't been routinely inspected in 15 years.

Abortion has always been a highly emotional state of controversy, but both pro and anti-abortionists agree that once life is given, and there is a physical being, murder is murder.

Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said Gosnell will "get what he deserves" now that he's been found guilty.

"Now, let's make sure these women are vindicated by delivering what all women deserve: Access to the full range of health services including safe, high-quality and legal abortion care," she said in a statement.