Kermit Gosnell was born on February 9, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the only child of a gas station operator and a government clerk. He attended Central High School, graduating in 1959, and initially enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania before earning his bachelor's degree from Dickinson College. In 1966, he obtained his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University.

Gosnell dedicated four decades to practicing medicine among the poor, including running a teen-aid program and opening the Mantua Halfway House, a rehabilitation clinic in West Philadelphia. He was an early supporter of abortion rights, and in 1972, he opened an abortion clinic on Lancaster Avenue in Mantua. He stated his commitment to providing abortions to women in need due to his concern for the sanctity of life.

In 1972, Gosnell performed televised second-trimester abortions using the experimental "Super Coil" method, resulting in severe complications for several women. The procedure, involving a plastic ball with razor blades, caused significant injuries, infections, and bleeding. Despite the negative outcomes, Gosnell was once considered a respected community figure, even being a finalist for the "Young Philadelphian of the Year" award.

By the late 1980s, public records revealed financial troubles, with tax liens against both the halfway house and the abortion clinic. Gosnell has been married three times; his third wife, Pearl, worked with him at the Women's Medical Society. Together, they have two children, and Gosnell has four other children from previous marriages.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell was known in Philadelphia for providing abortions to poor and minority women. He faced criticism for racism, charging $1,600 to $3,000 for late-term abortions, and earning significant daily income from his clinic. He was also linked to clinics in Delaware and Louisiana.

Throughout his career, Gosnell faced numerous complaints and lawsuits, highlighting severe regulatory failures. In 1989 and 1993, he was cited for not having nurses in the recovery room. In 1996, he was fined for employing unlicensed personnel. A 2000 lawsuit involved the death of Semika Shaw, settled for $900,000. In 2001, he was suspended for improper vaccine storage. By 2006, a lawsuit regarding a failed abortion was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. In total, 46 lawsuits were filed against him over 32 years.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell's clinic, the Women's Medical Society, was raided on February 18, 2010, by the FBI and Pennsylvania State Police. This raid resulted from a months-long investigation by the DEA, Philadelphia Police, and the state's Dangerous Drug-Offender Unit into illegal drug prescriptions.

Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old refugee from Bhutan, died after receiving a lethal dose of anesthesia and painkillers at Gosnell's clinic. During the trial, experts testified that the drug levels were dangerously high. Gosnell's defense claimed she had other drugs in her system, but this was rejected by the grand jury, which blamed the overdose of Demerol.

The first-degree murder charges involved babies seen moving or crying after birth, only to be killed by Gosnell. A clinic employee, Steven Massof, admitted to snipping the spines of over 100 infants, a practice considered standard at the clinic.

The U.S. Attorney also alleged that Gosnell ran a prescription "pill mill," fraudulently prescribing thousands of pills and allowing customers to buy multiple prescriptions under different names. The clinic was making significant income from these illegal activities. Gosnell's lawyer argued that the prosecution was biased and targeted, claiming that Gosnell had served the poor community. Despite Gosnell's claims of near destitution, records showed he owned multiple properties, including a million-dollar house.

In May 2013, Dr. Kermit Gosnell was found guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of three infants and involuntary manslaughter in the death of Karnamaya Mongar, who died after an abortion procedure. He was also convicted of 21 felony counts of illegal late-term abortions and 211 counts of violating Pennsylvania's informed consent law. Gosnell avoided the death penalty by waiving his right to appeal and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Additionally, he received a 30-year sentence for federal drug charges. Gosnell is currently serving his sentence at SCI Huntingdon.