Several States Forbid Abortion After 20 Weeks

[onpatrol98]

Several States Forbid Abortion After 20 Weeks

By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: June 26, 2011

Dozens of new restrictions passed by states this year have chipped away at the right to abortion by requiring women to view ultrasounds, imposing waiting periods or cutting funds for clinics. But a new kind of law has gone beyond such restrictions, striking at the foundation of the abortion rules set out by the Supreme Court over the last four decades.

These laws, passed in six states in little more than a year, ban abortions at the 20th week after conception, based on the theory that the fetus can feel pain at that point — a notion disputed by mainstream medical organizations in the United States and Britain. Opponents of abortion say they expect that discussion of fetal pain — even in the face of scientific criticism — will alter public perception of abortion, and they have made support for the new laws a litmus test for Republicans seeking the presidency.

“The purpose of this type of bill is to focus on the humanity of the unborn child,” said Mary Spaulding Balch, director of state legislation for the National Right to Life Committee. “Fetal pain is something that people who are in the middle on the abortion issue can relate to.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/us/27abortion.html?_r=1&ref=us

[Bigmack]

1. Our extended family...

had a 25 weeks abortion of a very damaged fetus. Even the best medical care didn't detect the fatal and tragic syndrome until the 22nd week. "Heartbreaking" doesn't begin to describe the situation.

Anybody who would think to stop those kind of terminations is an asshole.... and worse, probably a Republican.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Republican + Asshole = Redundancy.

[TBF]

2. I wish they'd care about the pain of people who are born, and living in poverty

along with all the abuses that can happen to those who are unwanted. I will consider the opinion of the fundamentalist wing-nuts when they agree to make contraception readily available in high schools so older teens learn how to safely prevent pregnancy. I would then discuss federally subsidized pre-natal care, housing assistance, and assistance to make adoptions happen if that is what the woman chooses as an alternative. Right now the view is "they have to have the baby and pay for it" - well many can't afford it and no amount of "you should have thought of that" moralizing is going to make money appear in their wallets.

This is one area of politics where being practical is the only option, because we can't control what people do in their bedrooms (even though the conservatives will try their best to do so).

[InkAddict]

9. But we can surely keep "immoral" people from having bedrooms... n/t

[TBF]

12. Ugh, you know they are thinking that. nt

[LeftishBrit]

3. Abortions after 20 weeks are extremely rare.

In the UK, three-quarters of abortions are performed before 10 weeks, and 90% before 13 weeks. Only one per cent are performed at or after 20 weeks, and usually there are special reasons for it: e.g. the baby has a serious and probably fatal abnormality; the mother's life is at risk; or in some cases a very young girl has been raped/sexually abused and not told anyone till a late stage.

Acting as though lots of women just casually decide to have an abortion after 20 weeks is wrong, and probably an excuse for trying to ban abortion altogether.

[slackmaster]

7. The antis don't want people to know that

They want to portray every abortion as the grisly dismemberment of an innocent being that's easily recognizable as human.

[E-Z-B]

4. By the time we got all the test results confirming that our child had Trisomy 13, we were getting

very close to 20 weeks. Each test takes 1 - 2 weeks. You're at 20 weeks before you know it. Parents shouldn't have to conform to an artificial deadline.,

Had to terminate the pregnancy. Hardest thing we ever did. We wanted that child. :cry:

[Bigmack]

6. I truly feel your pain. I think our....

whole family ran out of tears when ours happened...

They had a wonderful child two years later, but we all still have a hole in our hearts where that child would have fit perfectly.

The courage to end that kind of pregnancy is off the top of the charts.

You are truly brave people.

[mrs_p]

8. so sorry

:hug:

[Warpy]

5. The purpose of this bill is to deny the humanity of the woman

in whose body and whose life is being threatened by a fetus of 20 weeks gestation.

This will kill women.

And they think that's a good idea.

[saras]

11. Since the mother can feel pain, obviously she has the right to abort the fetus at any time