Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the country, and that’s saying a lot because we have plenty of divisive issues. So when New York state passed a bill allowing late-term abortions in cases where the health of the mother is endangered or strongly compromised, the backlash was quick and strong.
The Reproductive Health Act was passed on Tuesday, which happened to be the 46th anniversary of Roe V. Wade. It replaces the previous law, which only permitted abortion after 24 weeks if the mother’s life was definitely at risk. Under the new law, abortions are classified as health statutes rather than penal codes, so they’re basically decriminalized. In addition, the bill gives permission to midwives and physician assistants to do the abortion under certain conditions.
The new law allows for abortion up until full gestation, so it’s been exceptionally controversial. The main point of the law is to protect pregnant women from major health complications or death, but of course, some anti-abortion people are acting as if this means women will just breeze on in and decide to terminate their late-stage pregnancies for no apparent reason.
In a twitter thread that’s since gone viral, gynecologist Dr. Jennifer Gunter explained the reasons why the woman who chooses to abort a late-stage pregnancy on a whim is a myth.
I’ve done abortions after 24 weeks.
For several years I lived in a state with no gestational age limit.
I have never done one that was not medically indicated.
I was never approached by any woman to do a non medically indicated abortion.— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
So spare me the lies.
Abortion after 24 weeks is very rare.
It is very expensive.
These are not “whims” because a woman is tired of being pregnant.
These are situations with tragic fetal anomalies, sometimes compounded by maternal health issues— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
I know of one case after 24 weeks where there were no fetal anomalies. It took months to get the court order as the child’s parents would not consent. It was in the news, so not a HIPAA violation. She had raped by her brother if I remember correctly.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Here are some examples:
25 weeks, severe growth restriction and fetus not expected to survive. Pregnant person has severe pre eclampsia, chooses abortion over c-section— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
32 weeks, anencephalic fetus. Pregnant person just can’t take people touching her belly and asking about the baby. Chooses an early induction, which is technically an abortion.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Triploidy pregnancy. Had been planning to deliver at term and have hospice. At 36 weeks, transverse lie. Can’t be induced for this reason. Does not want a c-section. Chooses a dilation and extraction.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Anyone, especially any doctor, who says these are not indicated is wrong.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
If you have never done a post 24 week procedure, so you have spoken with her and also likely with her high risk OB and/or geneticist, you have zero credibility to discuss the procedure.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Sometimes the situation is such that the mother will most certainly die if the fetus isn’t aborted.
Sometimes hypertension in pregnancy is so bad that a 26 week fetus is the size of one that is 19 weeks. The mother is literally dying from her high blood pressure. The D and E may be safer and faster. Your patient is counseled by neonatology and OB and then she makes a choice.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Imagine being 12 or 13, you are raped by your brother. Get pregnant. And you have to fight for emancipation to get an abortion?
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
I could go one. The permutations and combinations of pregnancy horror are truly bizarre and tragic.
A doctor, a especially an OB/GYN, with no empathy or medical understanding of these situations? That is frightening.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Some people responded to Dr. Gunter with their own experiences with late-term pregnancy abortions.
My son was 24 weeks along when my doctor gave him a shot to stop his heart, then induced delivery. Potter’s Syndrome. Bilateral renal agenis. Not compatible with life. And not detectable until the 20 week anatomy scan.
— Max&Lucy (@MaxyandLucy) January 26, 2019
My wife and I had to terminate a wanted pregnancy after 24 weeks because of serious fetal anomaly. It was enormously painful, but I’m grateful we were able to do it legally and without jumping through hoops. People who would compound the pain of that situation have no hearts.
— Owl (@UmmAlDunya) January 26, 2019
And a lot of people thanked Dr. Gunter for taking the time to share her perspective and expertise.
Thank you for this thread. I’ve seen so much anti-choice rhetoric being shared, even from some other OB’s claiming there is never a need for an abortion procedure, only an emergency C-section.
— Asha Dahya (@Ashadahya) January 26, 2019
Thank you for educating the public. As someone raised in a far right anti-aborition family who was holding signs of aborted fetuses by the time I could stand, one of the most difficult breaks was deconstructing the lies that I had been fed regarding abortion for my entire life.
— A_Random_Scientist ??? (@Random_Neuro123) January 26, 2019
My wife is a Perinatologist (High Risk OB). Her experiences mirror yours. So many of the forced birth movement are led to believe that medically indicated terminations are not a thing.
— Michael Platt (@wolfi622) January 26, 2019
Other people shared stories of pro-lifers they knew who’d gotten abortions under similar circumstances, but still refused to think of them as abortions, maintaining their anti-abortion stances.
My pro-life activist coworker had a “late-term abortion” to end her baby’s suffering& save her own life due to a tragic medical problem (I can’t remember what it was).She is still a pro-life activist & sees what she did as something other than abortion, when it was exactly that.
— itstrainingcats&dogs?? (@AbbyHartman) January 26, 2019
Planned Parenthood has multiple times done abortions for women who picketed their clinics. Their policy is ensure they have safe judgement-free procedures and their status as a protester isn’t mentioned.
And they’re often back out protesting the next week.
— Nick Gorton MD????? (@RNickGorton) January 26, 2019
Used to work for Planned Parenthood—absolutely true.
— Kelly Hills (@rocza) January 26, 2019
Rick Santorum & his wife were interviewed a number of years ago by Terry Gross on Fresh Air. They terminated a late term pregnancy due to cancer & maternal health issues. They still maintained their “pro-life” stance & said abortion should be illegal. SMH
— never claimed i was funny (@veronicamariez2) January 27, 2019
Hopefully, the conversation will continue to include medical professionals who can share the realities about these situations and not just rhetoric from people who think women just randomly want to terminate their pregnancies at late stages.
h/t: Someecards