Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheri
You said that it was illegal for any form of abortions above the 2nd trimester unless there is a medical reason for it, right? as I remember very clear that's what you said on another thread. |
Yes, Cheri, that is exactly what I said. And second trimester abortions can still be performed when there is a medical reason. But a doctor cannot legally use the technique of "partial birth" to complete the procedure. It was outlawed in 2003.
It is perfectly legal for a doctor to perform an abortion before the end of the first trimester for any reason upon the request of the pregnant woman. But it is not legal for him to perform the abortion using a dirty coathanger. You are confusing a banned technique with the actual procedure.
Legal: first elective abortions performed by a doctor at the woman's request.
Illegal: performing that abortion without a medical license. Performing that abortion using unnaccepted medical techniques (i.e. a dirty coathanger.
Legal: abortions extending past the first trimester in the case of a woman's life being at risk or in the case of a fetus that is so defective that the deformities are incompatible with life.
Illegal: performing abortions extending past the first trimester, even when medically indicated, using the technique known as "partial birth." If it is medically indicated, the abortion is not illegal. Using the partial birth technique is. A doctor performing a 2nd trimester abortion for therapeutic and medically accepted reasons (risk of death to the woman or incomaptibility with life for the fetus) has not done anything illegal. If he uses the "partail birth" technique to complete a legal procedure, he has done something illegal. The abortion was not illegal, the manner in which he completed it was illegal.