Originally Posted by jillio

Because, Cheri, the technique was not illegal 22 years ago. It was only banned in 2003. As long as a physician had a medical foundation for performing a second trimester abortion, it was not illegal to use the technique that you call "partial birth." Today, doctors can still perform 2nd timester abortion under certain criteria. However, they cannot use the technique of partial birth. So even if a mother's life was at stake, or the fetus had a birth defect incompatible with life, and the abortion was perfectly legal, the doctor would have committed an illegal act by using that particular technique.

You seem to be under the mistaken impression that all 2nd trimester abortions are done using the same technique. That is simply not accurrate or true.