Bush Ignores Women's Health, Denies Their Rights

News and Opinion for Democrats Against Bush -- Part II

Bush Ignores Women's Health, Denies Their Rights

"Women have abortions after 20 weeks only in extraordinary and horrific circumstances," [Kim Luton] says, "when there is a gross fetal anomaly or the mother's health is in danger. They are not women who don't want to be pregnant."

--quoted by Lynn Hurst in the Toronto Star

Toronto Star (Canada)

U.S. ban sparks new abortion battle
Pro-choice activists horrified by bill,
Fear step-by-step erosion of rights

LYNDA HURST FEATURE WRITER

This excellent article is currently (4/1/04) available in full on the Toronto Star website at-- http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1068336305994&call_pageid=968332188854&col=968350060724 [found through a Google search by article title on the same date]

Excerpt--

... "Women have abortions after 20 weeks only in extraordinary and horrific circumstances," [Kim Luton] says, "when there is a gross fetal anomaly or the mother's health is in danger. They are not women who don't want to be pregnant."

Medical conditions that may be harmful if a pregnancy is continued include serious kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes and malignant hypertension. But supporters of the U.S. law say that abortion is never necessary to protect a woman's health. ...

Luton says the ban ignores the fact certain pre-natal tests can't be done until the 18th week of pregnancy, and that it takes two to four weeks to get the results. Therefore, a woman could be well beyond 20 weeks before she's informed the fetus has a severe genetic disorder and is likely to die in utero or at birth.

She also cites a case she was involved with of a 12-year-old who was raped, but didn't realize she was pregnant. Neither did her mother or family doctor — until the girl was five months along.

"To deny abortions to females who are facing these types of situations is truly immoral," Luton says flatly. ...

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