Partial-Birth Abortion Ban's Legal Loophole

Fox News ^ | Lauren Green

[Zender500]

Much was made of Congress upholding the 2003 partial-birth abortion ban this past April. Pro-life groups applauded, while pro-choice groups ranted that it was chipping away at Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that made abortion legal in the United States.

But, just last week, a story surfaced in the Boston Globe about how doctors are using lethal drugs to kill fetuses in the womb, so the baby is not alive when it's "delivered." Apparently, it's all legal. It allows doctors to circumvent the partial-birth abortion law, or at least the spirit of it, because the intent of the law is to prevent babies being aborted that would otherwise be able to live outside the womb. As the Boston Globe story points out the partial-birth law is written so broadly that the injection procedure sits within legal boundaries.

The report says that in Boston, three major Harvard-affiliated hospitals have responded to the ban by using the injection technique: Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's, and Beth Israel Deaconess. The injections are the new standard operating procedures for abortions beginning around the 20-weeks' gestation — that's the middle of the fifth month and halfway through full term. Tom Strode of The Baptist Press wrote that it "may violate the spirit of the 2003 law, but it apparently does not transgress the letter of the ban."

A doctor from a California hospital commented that the procedure is too risky and "the only clear benefit is a legal one to the physician."

It's so odd to be talking about matters of life and death in such a matter-of-fact way. These decisions are filled with emotion and heartache. And, the subject of abortion is especially difficult and touchy.

[Zender500]

But let me tell you what changed my mind completely about abortion. I met Dr. Bernard Nathanson; for anyone not in news or active in the abortion debate, you may not know who he is, but you know his work. He was one of the original founders of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL.) He coined the phrase, "A woman's right to choose" and "reproductive rights." He performed more than 60,000 abortions and is now staunchly pro-life.

What changed his mind was seeing for the first time, through the technology of ultrasound, what actually happens to the unborn child during an abortion. You can read more about his thoughts and what he saw in his book, The Hand of God.

My opinion about abortion wasn’t changed by what he said, but from what he did. Here was a man who had been in entrenched in one camp and was thoroughly knowledgeable about the process and the political agenda he helped form. Then, suddenly, he was moved by the tiniest of beings. He'd been transformed by the sight of the most innocent and helpless of humans, the unborn. And his decision changed me.

[JayNorth]

This stuff is so barbaric I seriously question the humanity of any doctor who performs it. Any medical doctor knows there is NO "health of the mother" issue involved. This is the grisly murder of a fully developed infant as a "convenience".

And the primary cheerleaders are libs who hold their candlelight vigils for convicted murderers on death row or to save the seals or whatever. Savage is right, liberalism IS a mental disorder.

[Always Right]

It is hard to believe doctors who know exactly what they are doing, can be so barbaric. What kind of inhumane being can live with their actions. Pure evil in my view.

[SoFloFreeper]

Lauren Green is an awesome reporter.

Talented, too: I saw her playing the piano once on Cal Thomas' now defunct Fox show....

[Mr. K]

thank for the pic post~! Lauren definitely qualifies for the ‘Ann Coulter’ rule

[Weeedley]

Dr. Mengele would approve.