By Bonnie Chernin Rogoff
Founder, Jews For Life

Supporters of partial birth abortion cringe at the pro-life description, preferring the clinically antiseptic label "D & X abortion" (dilation and extraction). Whether it be choice, reproductive freedom, or product of conception, everybody knows that the outcome of a partial birth abortion is a dead infant.

There are some immediate facts everyone should know about PBA:

Partial Birth Abortion is never medically necessary. There is no justification for this gruesome act. It is a dangerous procedure not taught in any medical school. The American Medical Association has called it "bad medicine."

Partial Birth Abortion is never performed to protect a woman's health or fertility, according to former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. "On the contrary," he stated, "this procedure can pose a significant threat to both." The PBA procedure involves the extensive forceful dilation of the cervix, with the potential for weakening it. This can result in extensive damage, and the potential for miscarriages in future wanted pregnancies.

Partial Birth Abortion is never used as an emergency procedure to save a woman's life or preserve her health. If the baby is placing the mother's life at risk, a competent obstetrician must utilize the quickest method to remove the baby, thus placing the mother out of danger. The dilation procedure in PBA involves the insertion of laminaria (seaweed) to dilate the cervix and promote premature labor. On average, partial birth abortion takes three days to complete. The appropriate method when an emergency delivery is required is a C-section, which is quick, and saves both the mother and baby's life.

Partial Birth Abortion is performed much more frequently than the pro-abortion groups and mainstream media admit. Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, admitted that he was "lying through my teeth" about public statements in 1995 that this procedure was rarely used and then only to protect the life and health of the mother. He estimates 5,000 or more partial-birth abortions are performed every year. In an article published in the March 3, 1997 issue of American Medical News, Fitzsimmons said that the vast majority of these abortions are preformed on healthy mothers with healthy fetuses in the 20-plus week range.

The Metropolitan Clinic in Englewood, New Jersey performs over, 1,500 partial birth abortions annually. According to one doctor questioned there, most of these abortions were performed for elective reasons. Partial birth abortions are being promoted as medically necessary only by those in the abortion industry who stand to gain the most in profits, if the procedure remains legal.

Partial birth abortion is a dangerous act of violence that is routinely performed, never medically necessary and places the pregnant mother's future childbearing capability at peril. Information explaining the risks and realities of partial birth abortion is easily accessible. Still, to their discredit, many liberal pro-abortion groups continue to promote infanticide as a rare, medically-necessary abortion technique.

In summary, partial birth abortion had a disastrous effect on young people. Cases of child abuse and murder of newborns by teenagers have risen dramatically. Coming of age in the pre-Roe era it was easy to discern right from wrong. In a society that defines murder as choice inches before delivery and a felony inches after, is it any surprise that young girls can not make a distinction? Is it any wonder so many give birth and are desensitized to their newborns? The only difference between two savage acts is timing. What a callous legacy we have given young people on behalf of "choice."

Postscript: On November 5, 2003 President Bush signed into law the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act with these opening comments:

"For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law looked the other way. Today, at last, the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child."

© 2004 Jews For Life

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Concerned Women for America
Website: http://www.cwfa.org
1015 Fifteenth St. N.W., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 488-7000
Fax: (202) 488-0806

CWA is the nation's largest public policy women's organization with a rich 25-year history of helping our members across the country bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy.

CWA helps people focus on six core issues, which we have determined need Biblical principles most and where we can have the greatest impact. At its root, each of these issues is a battle over worldviews.

We have several active departments in our national office in Washington, D.C.

CWA is a unique blend of policy experts and an activist network of people in small towns and big cities across the country working to address mutually held goals and concerns. Meet the CWA spokespersons. CWA works with many other groups around the country. Find these and other sources of information on our links page.

Euthanasia.com
Website: www.euthanasia.com/partial.html
E-Mail: euthan@email.com

Euthanasia.com is a website whose primary focus is on legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide. However, this website also offers a partial birth abortion page with an extensive list of important articles on the subject of PBA, including links to relevant websites and details of Congressional votes on this issue. Also included is a page documenting the U.S. Supreme Court decision on partial birth abortion from June, 2000.

Family Research Council
Website: http://www.frc.org/iss/life/
801 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 1(202)393-2100
Order Line: 1(800) 225-4008
E--Mail: corrdept.@frc.org

Position statement: "The Family Research Council believes in the sanctity of life from the moment of conception until natural death." The FRC publishes numerous documents on partial birth abortion and other life issues, including research and bioethics, and euthanasia.

Priests For Life
Website: http://www.priestsforlife.org
PO Box 141172
Staten Island, NY 10314
Toll-Free: 1(888) PFL-3448
Fax: 1(718) 980-6515
E-Mail: mail@priestsforlife.org

A movement of priests seeking to help the rest of the Church to use her full strength against the most devastating attacks on human life in our day.

Catholic bishops, priests and deacons convened to form Priests for Life, an organization "to unite and encourage all clergy to give special emphasis to life issues in their ministry." Predominant issues are abortion and euthanasia. Site includes a page on partial birth abortion, with pertinent articles and statements by prominent Catholic bishops and clergymen. (Priests For Life is also listed on JFL's "Living Alternatives" page.)

It is critical for pro-life groups and organizations to help get out the vote to protect human life.

Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent voter, Jews For Life will provide news and insights into abortion laws, Judaism, and women's issues.