The recent UpFront column (“Abortion sometimes the only choice”) touchingly tells the story of a woman, 25 weeks pregnant, “with a child they had already loved,” who flew to Albuquerque for an abortion. Why? Because she had received the unexpected, sad news of an abnormal fetal diagnosis. She had “wanted to protect my child,” and perhaps didn’t know her options.
Previously excited by the pregnancy, such parents must feel overwhelmed by this shocking news. Sadly, though, there are doctors, fearing “wrongful life” lawsuits, who can push such parents, at a very emotional time, toward abortion, when they first might just need more information.
Traumatized parents are often unaware whether the prenatal test was for screening, with up to 50% false positives, or diagnosis. So, yes, 80% of such grieving parents choose abortion.
Sometimes the doctors will smooth the decision, calling it “induced labor.” These women are unaware that there, indeed, is another option. Carry to term. Evaluate the baby at birth. When expectant mothers learn of this option, 80% choose to continue their pregnancy, to welcome their baby.
The column makes it appear that this woman was denied “informed consent.” Did she know her options? While she was in shock, her doctor told her that at birth her child “would struggle then die a gruesome death.” But then she said that the abortion saved “my daughter a life of pain.” Which was it? Does this sound like a decision of an informed, empowered woman? Or maybe someone who needed more information?
Abortion is never “the only choice.” First, there is often misdiagnosis with these prenatal tests. Sports star Tim Tebow is one of many whose parents rejected their doctor’s recommendation to abort, based on a wrong prenatal diagnosis.
These tests can be wrong. Diagnosis at birth also allows the physician to do everything possible to protect the newborn from suffering, quite different from abortion.
Women facing an unexpected, shocking diagnosis need support.
An amazing organization, “Be Not Afraid,” accompanies such women through and after their pregnancies. They walk alongside their clients, who carry their children to term and give birth. None of their clients has regretted doing this. Their clients appear to be dealing with grief much better than those who chose the date of their child’s death.
The column touchingly describes the woman here, holding “the daughter that was not to be,” with her “tiny, wrinkly fingers.” I imagine that holding an alive daughter, even for only a short time, would be a different journey into grief.
Women at all phases of pregnancy and child-bearing need our support. Empowered women need information, to know their options.
Abortion is never “the only choice available.” Carrying to term, in fact, can be better for both patients.
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November 15, 2020 at 02:02PM
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Abortion is never the only choice – choose life - Albuquerque Journal
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