Gosnell gets additional 30 years for ‘pill mill’

Published December 17, 2013 6:52pm ET



THE NEWS JOURNAL – PHILADELPHIA – In what was likely Kermit Gosnell’s last court appearance, the 72-year-old former abortion doctor convicted in May for killing newborns at his clinic, attempted one last time to salvage his public image.

Dressed in a green prison jumpsuit, Gosnell delivered a nearly 45-minute rambling lecture to U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe on Monday, arguing that the federal case against him for running a “pill mill” – handing out prescriptions for high powered-pain killers in exchange for cash – was largely a misunderstanding.

Gosnell, who also practiced at a Wilmington abortion clinic, said he was operating a sophisticated treatment program out of his West Philadelphia Women’s Medical Society Clinic that went off track. He said he was in the process of fine-tuning it when he was arrested and charged with conspiracy and drug distribution.

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