MAHONING TOWNSHIP - A Washingtonville mother waived to Montour County Court charges that she helped her teen daughter abort her unborn child using illegally obtained drugs from overseas.
Jennifer A. Whalen, 38, of 15 1/2 Water St., was charged by state police at Milton with a felony count of medical consultation and judgment and misdemeanor charges of unlawful acts - not licensed as a pharmacist, endangering the welfare of a child and simple assault. After appearing before Magisterial District Judge Marvin K. Schrawder, she remained free on $25,000 unsecured bail and will face court arraignment in March.
According to The (Bloomsburg) Press-Enterprise, Whalen's daughter, who is 18 now, became pregnant in January 2012, but said she did not want a baby. Whalen told police she could not find a local abortion clinic and didn't want to travel out of state. The mother ordered an abortion drug package, consisting of Misoprostol and Mifepristone, for $45 online from an overseas drugstore.
The drugs require a prescription in the United States and the direct care of a doctor.
Police said Whalen claimed she was a nurse but didn't have a nursing license. Whalen told police she didn't get a prescription because she didn't know she needed one, police reported.
On Feb. 6, 2012, her daughter was transported to the Geisinger Medical Center emergency room with severe abdominal pain. Medical records obtained by police stated she was "treated for an incomplete abortion and a urinary tract infection."