Posted on 07/27/2017 7:13:34 AM PDT by lightman
Colleen Krajewski performs abortions.
She's not hiding it -- in fact, she wants you to know.
The Pittsburgh physician even has a tattoo of a clothes hanger, a symbol of the danger of illegal abortions, on her forearm for all to see.
In July, The Washington Post published a column she wrote about her work and its impact on her personal and dating life. It was widely shared, and Krajewski said she has received messages from around the world in response.
The column is unusual. She says many doctors who perform abortions aren't up front about what they do. Some even hide that part of their work from family and friends.
Another compelling story: He died 3 years ago; his family only found out last week
Maybe that's why despite abortions taking up only 10 to 20 percent of her professional time, many people define her by it.
Once people know, many aren't interested in her dog's Instagram or her furniture refinishing projects any more. Once it's out at a party, women often approach her, whispering the story of their abortion. She's been called "the abortion lady."
She's well aware that some people are morally opposed to what she does. Research says 44 percent of Americans think abortion is morally wrong, according to the Pew Research Center.
Many are vocal about their beliefs, including one commenter on her column, known only as "sensible," who wrote: "It chills my blood to see women like this boasting and celebrating what is ... killing of little babies."
She wishes people who oppose abortions could meet her patients.
"I don't do this because I'm morally corrupt or because I don't care. I love my patients. I do this at a fairly great personal sacrifice ... I don't do this for fun. ... I do it because it's right. I do it because I can't look at my patent's eye and tell them 'no,'" she said.
She says an abortion is a necessary procedure for her patients -- unplanned pregnancies can be "economically devastating." For many women who seek an abortion, "they have other people in their life that they need to take care of."
She knows her patients often struggle with stigma and even shame. Many believe abortions are morally wrong but feel their situation is an exception.
She wants to end that stigma.
"Abortion is not an immoral choice," she said. She knows her patients -- who she called "awesome" and "incredible"; they are perfectly capable of making judgments about what is best for them.
During the counseling process, which occurs by law 24 hours in advance of an abortion, Krajewski informs patients of the risks, benefits, alternatives -- including adoption.
In some cases, it becomes clear through conversations that a woman has been coerced into the decision. Krajewski says she won't do those procedures and steers those patients toward appropriate resources.
But most women already have weighed their options and made an informed decision, she said.
She says research and experience tell her that women who have an abortion don't feel shame -- they feel relief. While she says her patients don't make the decision flippantly, they typically don't find it to be a heart-wrenching choice.
She says that safe, legal abortions like the ones she provides save women's lives. "They're going to happen whether I do them or not." And she's proud that her procedures are fast, safe and have a low complication rate. She also says that medically it's hard to find a safer procedure.
She says that she never intended to become an advocate -- or even a doctor who performs abortions. But after being shocked to learn the number of women who seek abortions, she felt compelled to become a family planning specialist. That specialty focuses on birth control and abortion.
In Pennsylvania, 226 abortions are performed for every 1,000 births, according to 2015 data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. In 2015, there were 31,818 abortions in the state.
The number of abortions in Pennsylvania is going down, although Krajewski and Matthew Wagner, education director with the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, don't agree on why.
She says increased access to contraceptives has helped lower the number of abortions needed.
He says that public perception has shifted toward recognizing "the humanity of the child" in the womb.
"The reality is, any one abortion is a tragedy ... our goal is to get that number to zero," he said.
They don't agree on much when it comes to the topic of abortion.
But one piece of common ground: Both say that many women who seek abortions do so because they lack proper support.
Often her patients feel backed into a corner, Krajewski says. No one enjoys having an abortion, but people from all walks of life -- including different races and religions -- come seeking her services.
She has no patience for those who disagree with her patients' decisions. It's not their life; it's not their business, she says.
And because she commonly performs abortions on women who are quick to say they believe the procedure is wrong, she suspects many critics would feel differently if they were in her patients' shoes.
But if she loves her patients, then she would love the babies, too, for they are also her patients.
Sounds like an oxymoron statement to me.
Never said it did.
Just the same as drug dealers if they didn’t have customers.
Supplying a demand.
Satan has a warm bench waiting for you.
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