By Michael Motes

A spokesman at the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) has called “a lot of speculation” some of the published reports of alleged facts in the death of Angela Scott, the 19-year-old Atlanta woman who died following an abortion at the Atlanta Women’s Pavilion last month.

Dr. George Rubin, Medical Consultant to the Maternal and Child Health Care Division of DHR, was contacted by the BULLETIN last week and asked if his office had received any additional information in connection with the death of Ms. Scott.

“Absolutely nothing new has come to us,” Dr. Rubin said. “It’s a frustrating business. I don’t know where some of the published information has come from. The lack of objectionable medical papers in the case leads me to believe that a lot of speculation has appeared in print.”

Dr. Rubin, whose department is responsible for keeping statistics on all pregnancy-related deaths, commented that because of the amount of publicity in the Angela Scott death, that it might be some time before all the medical facts are released.

“Because of all the litigation involved, everyone has been told to keep quiet. I am sure that once all the facts are known, they will be released. But in the meantime, the only thing resulting from the publicity is exaggerated dangers of having an abortion,” Dr. Rubin said.

Lt. W. K. Perry of the Atlanta Homicide Bureau, told the BULLETIN that his department has almost completed their phase of the investigation, called for by Fulton County District Attorney Lewis R. Slaton. The investigation has involved taped interviews with a total of nine people, employees of the Atlanta Women’s Pavilion and Grady Hospital.

“I don’t see anything criminal in the case,” Lt. Perry said, “but perhaps possible negligence.”

The report of Lt. Perry’s department will be turned over to the district attorney’s office upon completion, at which time it will be determined if a criminal investigation of the death will take place.