American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Statement on Rape and Pregnancy

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology ^

[hecht]

Statement on Rape and Pregnancy

August 20, 2012

Washington, DC -- Recent remarks by a member of the US House of Representatives suggesting that “women who are victims of ‘legitimate rape’ rarely get pregnant” are medically inaccurate, offensive, and dangerous.

Each year in the US, 10,000–15,000 abortions occur among women whose pregnancies are a result of reported rape or incest. An unknown number of pregnancies resulting from rape are carried to term. There is absolutely no veracity to the claim that “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down.” A woman who is raped has no control over ovulation, fertilization, or implantation of a fertilized egg (ie, pregnancy). To suggest otherwise contradicts basic biological truths.

Any person forced to submit to sexual intercourse against his or her will is the victim of rape, a heinous crime. There are no varying degrees of rape. To suggest otherwise is inaccurate and insulting and minimizes the serious physical and psychological repercussions for all victims of rape.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College), a 501(c)(3) organization, is the nation’s leading group of physicians providing health care for women. As a private, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization of approximately 56,000 members, The College strongly advocates for quality health care for women, maintains the highest standards of clinical practice and continuing education of its members, promotes patient education, and increases awareness among its members and the public of the changing issues facing women’s health care. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a 501(c)(6) organization, is its companion organization. www.acog.org

[Tennessee Nana]

It’s the pretenders that aren’t backing Akin.
___________________________________

Exactly...

Akin couldnt possibly effect the pro-life movement...

It would take a whole lot more than 100% pro-lifer Todd Akin with his great voting record in the House for life...

The pro-life movement hasnt moved one centimeter...

Its just where it always was...

Still not overturning Roe V Wade...

Instead the pro-aborts who are pretending to be “offended” need to look at Willard who HAS attempted to destroy the pro-life movement...

Where the outrage agasinst him ???

Without a objection to Willard’s on record promise that he would never overturn Roe V Wade since he accepted it as the “law of the land” and promised that he would “protect and defend a woman;s right to have an abortion” this whole thing is moot...

Unless these abortion pushers get upset with Willard, theyre just blowing smoke...

[Tennessee Nana]

He has offended many women
__________________________________

Romney campaign talking points...

Nobody know thay were suppose to be “offended” until Willard told them they had to be...

I am a victim of rape and Akin didnt “offend” me...

The one who offended me and made me feel sick to my stomach was sicko warped Willard using the crimes against me and my victimization to further his political ambitions...

[Jim from C-Town]

Your contention doesn't make that any more true than your statement that hundreds of thousands of his voters will now not vote for him.

Here is a fact MORE WOMEN are pro - life than Pro-Choice. More Men are Pro-Life than Pro-Choice.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/314640/abortion-and-gender-gap-numbers-ramesh-ponnuru

A well thought out and expertly explained reason for Akin BY Akin about his position will move the argument BACK to the damage and poor record of O’Bumbler and McRascal. He can simply state that:

“In my zeal to protect ALL human life, I was mistaken about the fact of female anatomy. And for that I am truly sorry.

What I am NOT sorry for is my pledge to protect the unborn whenever possible. I do not believe that a child should pay for his biological fathers crime by suffering a death penalty. I believe that women who have been impregnated by a rapist should be treated with respect and love and helped physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically to bring that child to term, and if they chose, to give that child up for adoption. These women are true heroes for life and should be treated that way! I do not believe that the violence and trauma associated with rape is mitigated by the violence and trauma associated with an abortion

Now let's get back to the real issues that are the cause for Ms. McRascals low approval ratings.”

[mlizzy]

Instead the pro-aborts who are pretending to be “offended” need to look at Willard who HAS attempted to destroy the pro-life movement...

That's very true... and now he's tainting Ryan it seems as well..

[philman_36]

...I was mistaken about the fact of female anatomy.
But he wasn't mistaken. See reply 59.

The argument is being framed in a deceptive manner to make it seem as if he said something he didn't.

He never said a woman can control ovulation, fertilization, or implantation of a fertilized egg. They were talking about an abortion and you can't get an abortion, or have a spontaneous abortion, unless you're already pregnant.

And spontaneous abortion does happen and it would be in line with what he was actually saying when he continued to speak about "ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

You can't let the argument get framed into something it isn't.

[Jim from C-Town]

I agree with you. It is a well known medical fact that stress and trauma may prevent a women from becoming pregnant, Note I said may not WILL. What can be more stressful and traumatic than being raped?

That being said, Akin could right the ship if the Republican would stop swamping the boat and helped to bail.

[philman_36]

I hate the term "spontaneous abortion". I'm much more used to miscarriage.
What a drag it is getting old.

[philman_36]

I agree with you.
Okay.

My contention was with what you said he should apologize about.
...I was mistaken about the fact of female anatomy.

So if you agree with me, and him by extension, then why should he apologize in the manner you stated?

[Jim from C-Town]

Because that is what politicians do. They apologize and then restate their opinion in a ‘more enlightened’ manner.

What he said was ham handed and strangely worded. Legitimate rape sounds like he is saying that some rapes are legitimate and others are illegitimate.

Had he simply stated that : “These are the ‘Hard Cases’ that the pro-abortion movement loves to bring up. Yet,the fact is that in cases of forcible rape, pregnancy is extremely rare. Particularly if the rape is reported and the victim receives treatment at the hospital in a timely fashion. Still, it does occur. In these cases the woman should be treated with love and respect and should be aided in every way possible to bring the child to term and allow for the child to be adopted if that is what she chooses to do.

Regardless, i do not believe that a child should pay with the death penalty for the crimes of it's biological father”

This whole sordid mess was only exacerbated by the stupid over reaction by so many Republicans.

[Boogieman]

Or it just includes all the women who told the abortion provider they were raped, when that wasn’t the cause of the pregnacy. It’s not hard to imagine why some women would say that, for example minors who needed parental consent.

[philman_36]

Got ya.

This whole sordid mess was only exacerbated by the stupid over reaction by so many Republicans.
I agree with that wholeheartedly.

[Uncle Chip]

<>I’d like to know where they got those #s... “10 TO 15,000” sure seems like a SWAG...<>

From telephone surveys. They are self reported not from medical/police reports and most are adolescent girls meaning statutory rape. Breakdown here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2921696/posts?page=73#58

[MD Expat in PA]

BFL

[rod1]

This pretty well proves that politicians of any stripe should stop trying to educate the public about things they know nothing about. One benefit would be we could all enjoy the sounds of nature more since there would be very little political discourse going out over the airways.

[surroundedbyblue]

Since the two of you seem to want to agitate so much for dumping Akin, playing useful idiot to the MSM that blew this whole thing out of proportion, why don’t you at least try to convince FReepers of your alleged pro-life position?

I have yet to read one word from either of you that defends the position of life. Instead, we get a posting from a pro-abortion advocacy group & name calling.

So what gives? Are you both really “lifers” or are you pro-death trolls trying to covertly beat some pro-life people over the head with the words of an inarticulate politician?

[hecht]

It wasn’t blown out of proportion. He made offensive statement and exposed a mythical dogma of an extreme fringe of the pro life movement that has set us back years.
A hundRed Lila Roses can not compensate for the unmasking the secretly held belief that pregnant rape victims are liars.
Of course we now see that many a knuckle dragged agrees with Akins statement, and lacks the empathy to understand why people would be offended.

[philman_36]

Given your comments here, Reagan69, I figured you could use a ping to this comment of mine at #59.

Courtesy ping, MamaTexan.

[StonyBurk]

Can anyone remember Roe- of Roe v.Wade? Seems Norma McCorvey as a lesbian who it has been reported claimed she was raped
and had no problem with the LIE as a lesbian-—yet when she grew weary of assisting in the bloody mess (abortion on demand) ...when she converted to Christianity she confessed the LIE. It seems she was Never raped—some say despite her role in Roe V.Wade. ... she may not have ever had an abortion either. And as one who was raped and sodomized by a hyphenated American back in 69 and as one who survived the years in a wasteland of drug abuse as a coping mechanism until I decided,as a Christian I had to trust God and not drugs. I resent the “progressive” argument that “rape” is only “rape “ if done to a woman.Akin to their other lie that
Hate crimes can only happen if committed against a homosexual or on eof their favored classes.

[StonyBurk]

So either we believe this “progressive” group—or the stats by another abortion rights group the Alan Guttmacher Institute back in 1987 —as quoted by Aida Torres and Jacqueline Darroch Forrest—Why do women have Abortions?—Family Planning Perspectives ,July,Aug.1988pp169-170-as cited by Robert H.Bork Slouching Towards Gomorrah pp.pp180-181 Regan Books ,1996. I cannot believe the numbers cited in this report for I recall the abortionist who helped found NARAL claim once that they made up the numbers of abortions to justify their “cause” in Roe and Doe.