A New York abortionist pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide Friday due to the 2016 death of Jaime Lee Morales, who bled to death while six months pregnant.
As Fox News reports, Dr. Robert Rho claims responsibility for administering 40,000 abortions. His prosecution is almost unique in that doctors are rarely ever successfully charged for criminal malpractice as most suits are resolved in civil court actions.
Queens Assistant District Attorney Brad Leventhal said Rho’s actions warranted criminal consequences.
“It’s about greed and arrogance,” Leventhal said during his summation to jurors, arguing that the patient “bled to death because this defendant did nothing.”
While the victim suffered from internal hemorrhaging, prosecutors say Rho chose not to call for an ambulance but sent the 30-year-old woman home to be with her sister — even though Morales was exhibiting signs of severe illness. After passing out in her sister’s car, medics brought her to the hospital — only to pronounce her dead on arrival.
Rho’s plea bargain came after his attorney negotiated with the prosecution and finalized a deal on Friday. The court was facing a potentially hung jury. Rho was initially charged with second-degree manslaughter and could have been sentenced to 15 years of jail. With the reduced charge, Rho could still be incarcerated for four years.