LISBON, January 18, 2002 (LSN.ca) – A Portuguese nurse who was operating an illegal abortion ring out of her home was sentenced to 8 ½ years in prison. The case involved 42 people, 17 of which were mothers who availed themselves of the illegal procedure, the remaining 25 were charged with participating in the abortion ring. The nurse, Maria do Ceu Ribeiro, aged 46, was found guilty of practising abortion, forging prescriptions, illegally administering drugs, and gaining money by illicit means.
The BBC reports that the prosecution, using Ribeiro’s diary as evidence, said she had performed more than 100 illegal abortions and called for a 12-year sentence. The court said in its verdict: “The court has taken into account that (Ribeiro) did it to help other women.”
See the BBC report at: https://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1767000/1767226.stm