A lawsuit filed suit on behalf of Joshua Vandervelden alleged that Dr. Benjamin Victoria attempted to perform an abortion on Linda Moie on January 12, 1979, at Fox Valley Reproductive Health Care Center in Wisconsin.
The abortion injured but did not kill the fetus (Joshua), who was born September 18, 1979.
Joshua spent two weeks on a respirator. According to the suit, the abortion caused hearing loss.
The suit was struck down by the court on the grounds that Linda consented to the abortion. Linda appealed, but the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s refusal to hear the case.
After the lawsuit was struck down, Linda Noie, Joshua’s mother, called the case a “victory” because its high profile has allowed people who have undergone a traumatic abortion “to come out from behind closed doors” to discuss their suffering. Noie now leads the WI chapter of Women Exploited by Abortion and often takes Joshua with her when speaks out against abortion.
According to reports, mother and son sometimes picket the clinic where he was aborted.
Sources: Dennis Roddy “Living Proof” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette April 22, 2000
Christina Dunigan “Pro-Choice Pro-Child? Joshua Vandervelden”
Share on Facebook