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WHY CAN'T WE LOVE THEM BOTH
by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke
CHAPTER 17
HOW MANY?
How many abortions are there?
In the U.S. there are 2 reporting agencies. The U.S. Center for
Disease Control is a passive recipient of reports voluntarily sent to it by the states.
Since all states don’t report, and many report inaccurately, these totals are
under-reported. The CDC does do a meticulous job of breaking down the categories, and so
these are the percentages everyone uses. The Alan Guttmacher Institute, a branch of
Planned Parenthood, aggressively contacts hospitals and known abortionists, and the result
is a more accurate and larger figure, which we use.
How many? During the 1980s and 1990s total abortions
stayed about 1,550,000 annually, slowly decreasing in the 1990s. Note that the Guttmacher
Institute reported that 10% of known abortion providers did not report. Adding 10% to its
1,550,000 equals 1,700,000. The total reported slowly decreased in the 1990s. When the
unreported abortions are added (income tax evasion, cover-up for privacy, etc.), a figure
of 1,800,000 may be more realistic. Live births have hovered just under 4,000,000.
Therefore: Almost every third baby conceived in America is killed by abortion. 112 Abortion Surveillance U.S. 1988 Morbidity & Mortality Weekly
Report Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, July 1991. S.K. Henshaw et al.,
"Abortion Services in the U.S., 1987-1988," Family Planning Perspectives, Vol.
22, No. 3 (May-June 1990), p. 103.
What’s
the story on numbers of abortion providers?
In 1973 half of all abortions in the U.S. were done
in hospitals. Twenty years later it was down to 7%. Most are done in 440 large
free-standing abortion chambers which did 70% of all abortions. The rest are done in
doctors’ offices or in clinics that do less than half of their "business"
in abortion. 5 Henshaw et al., Ab. Service in U.S. Fam.
Plan Persp., June ’94
How far along in pregnancy were they?
Using a 1,500,000 figure, in 1992:
- 1.2% or 18,000 were 22 weeks or older
- 10.0% or 150,000 were 13-20 weeks
- 88.8% or 1,332,000 were 12 and under
Center for Disease Control, MWWR, Dec. ’94
In 1994 the CDC reported that in 1993, 1.3% were done after 22 weeks
or about 20,000.
How many are repeaters?
Repeat abortions were 20% in 1973 but rose to 44% in
1987. In the U.S., by 1995, 45% of all abortions were repeats. S. Henshaw et al., Ab. Characteristics, 1994-95, Fam. Plan. Persp., Vol.
28, No. 4, July ’96, p. 143
What is the racial mix?
"The abortion rate for black women is
approximately three times that for white women." The race of those aborting, looking
at total numbers, is 63% white, 33% black and 4% "other." CDC as above 113
How many in 3rd trimester?
Probably more since the partial birth abortion
technique was begun. The official figures in the U.S. stop at 22 weeks but Dr. Wm. Swartz
reported on inserting laminaria in 700 women for third trimester abortions. Swartz, OB/GYN News, vol. 21, no.11, p. 23, Jan. ’87
How many abortions
are there in Canada?
In Canada, in 1984, there were 64,449 abortions,
which is 17.5% of their birth rate (11.7% were late abortions). In 1993 there were 104,403
abortions. Statistics Canada, Globe & Mail,
July 13, 1995
The 1969 Canadian law was struck down in 1988.
Since then, many free standing abortion chambers have been set up.
The result has been a steady increase in the numbers of abortions.
How about sex selection?
Few abortionists admit to doing this and so there are few reports.
When reported, it is girls who are killed except for a few males known to carry or have
genetic diseases.
Is abortion done for sex selection?
Selective abortion of multi-fetal pregnancies is a
good example. Doctors faced with quadruplets (4) will at times selectively kill two in the
womb on the supposition that survival of two has better odds than four. But, if the sex
can be determined, which ones are killed? "Ninety-nine percent of the requests are to
keep the boys." M. Evans, Progress in Fetal
Studies . . . Thorny Ethical Issues, OB, Gyn News, Oct. 1, 1990, p. 3
In a series of 8,000 amniocenteses done in Bombay, India, 7,999
unborn girl babies and one boy baby were killed.
But
think of the additional welfare costs for all these babies born to teenagers.
Planned Parenthood’s own figures are that there
will be welfare costs of $13,900 for each first birth to a teenager (married and
unmarried), and $8,400 cost for each first birth to her if she is 20 years or older.
Compare this with the average of nearly $50,000 each will ultimately pay in taxes as an
adult. M.Burt, "Public Cost of Teen
Childbearing," Family Planning Perspectives, vol.18, no. 5, Sept. 1986
What about Informed Consent?
This is one of the most tragic abuses associated with the abortion
industry. In any other type of surgery, the doctor is required to explain in detail what
the procedure is, its possible complications, etc. Only then does the patient give
"informed" consent. Abortion is unique in that, while it is surgery that is
potentially dangerous to the mother, it also destroys the living being within her. To be
fully informed, she should be given full factual information on the surgery, its possible
complications (immediate and long-term), and, also, full details about "what she
carries."
What is done? Very little factual information is given at all, and
what is given is often false. The complications are ignored, glossed over, or given on a
paper in fine print. Her passenger is referred to as "pregnancy tissue,"
"not alive yet," "not a baby yet," "just a bunch of cells,"
"only a glob." These descriptions are given at a stage of development when the
baby already sucks her thumb and feels pain, and when we can listen to her tiny heartbeat
on an office ultrasonic stethoscope. Such deception of the mother and planned railroading
of her into an abortion is never more evident than when the so-called
"counselor" asks her, "Do you want your menstrual period reestablished? If
so, just sign up for this procedure." Abortion is not mentioned, nor anything about
the baby.
There is no better example of the exploitation of women than this
continuing, commercialized, and almost universal deception.
How
are abortions different in practice in clinics compared to other surgery?
Abortions are unique among all types of surgery.
The chart below reflects the situation in free standing abortion
clinics in the U.S. To a greater or less extent, in every nation, abortion procedures are
commonly exempt from the sanitary and professional rules required of other surgery.
| |
ABORTION
|
ETHICAL SURGERY |
| Payment |
Cash at door |
Pay later |
| Pathologic exam |
Seldom |
Routine |
| Advertising |
Routine |
Rare |
| Counseling |
Usually a farce |
Done if needed |
| Second opinion |
Never |
If needed |
| Informed consent |
Legally not required |
Always |
| Kickbacks |
Sometimes |
Never |
| Record Keeping |
Sketchy |
In detail |
| Pre-op exam |
Often not done until
Mandatory and she is on the table |
detailed |
| Follow-up exam |
None |
Mandatory and detailed |
| Correct Diagnosis |
10-15% done on
none-pregnant women |
Surgeon is disciplined if
he does many wrong operations |
| Husband’s
consent |
Not needed |
Expected |
| Husband informed |
Not necessary |
Always |
| Consent of parents of
minor |
Not needed |
Legally required |
| Parents informed |
Seldom |
Legally required |
| Tissue disposal |
In garbage |
In humane and dignified
manner |
| Burial In garbage |
Yes, if large enough |
In humane and dignified
manner |
| Surgical training |
Not required |
Absolutely required |
| Non-medical reasons |
99% |
About 1% |
| Cash
"kick-backs" |
common |
forbidden |
Is there a remedy?
In the U.S., states are beginning to pass
"Women’s Right to Know" laws. These require the abortionist to see the
patient and mandate a waiting or "cooling off" period. Most require that an
information booklet be given her. Probably the best such book is from the Ohio Department
of Health and was approved by the Ohio Medical & Hospital Associations. For a copy,
send $2.00 to Cincinnati Right to Life at 1802 W. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45239,
USA.
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