Partial Birth Abortions

Over the last year, Americans have been horrified to learn about the partial-birth abortions. The Los Angeles Times, in a June 16, 1995 story, explained the procedure: "[It] requires a physician to extract a fetus, feet first, from the womb and through the birth canal until all but its head is exposed. Then the tips of surgical scissors are thrust into the base of the fetus' skull, and a suction catheter is inserted through the opening and the brain is removed."

Both the US House of Representatives and Senate passed bills that would outlaw these late term abortions, except in cases where the mother's life was in danger. President Clinton vetoed the bill, insisting that it include an exception for "serious health consequences." However, the term "health" has been broadly defined to include physical, psychological, emotional, familial, and age factors, thus allowing abortions for any reason throughout the nine months.

A great deal of misinformation about partial birth abortions has been disseminated by pro-abortion groups. Following are some of the falsehoods:

Partial-birth abortions are only performed in cases of severe fetal abnormality or where the mother's life is endangered. False.

Dr. Martin Haskell, one of the doctors who "pioneered" this procedure told American Medical News, "...In my particular case, probably 20% [of this procedure] are for genetic reasons. And the other 80% are purely elective." Of 175 partial-birth abortions performed for "maternal indications" by the late Dr. James McMahon, 39 (22%) were done for "depression," and nine for "cleft palate."

Partial-birth abortions are needed to save the mother's life. False.

Dr. Pamela E. Smith, Director of Medical Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at Chicago's Mt. Sinai Hospital, testified, "There are absolutely no obstetrical situations encountered in this country which require a partially delivered human fetus to be destroyed to preserve the life or health of the mother." Opponents of the ban have publicized cases of women whose babies suffered from severe hydrocephalus (enlargement of the head). However, standard care for this condition is to remove the fluid with a needle to reduce the size of the head, and deliver a live baby.

The baby is not alive when pulled from the womb. False.

Dr. Haskell told American Medical News, "...in my case, I would think probably about a third of those are definitely are [sic] dead before I actually start to remove the fetus. And probably the other two-thirds are not."

Anesthesia given to the mother kills the baby or keeps it from feeling pain. False.

In testimony before a Senate Committee, Dr. Norig Ellison, president of the 34,000 member American Society of Anesthesiologists testified that regional anesthesia (used in many partial-birth abortions and most normal deliveries) has virtually no effect on the fetus. General anesthesia has some sedating effect on the fetus, but much less than on the mother. Pain relief for the baby is doubtful and anesthesia certainly does not kill the child. In testimony before a House subcommittee, Dr. David J. Birnbach, president-elect of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology, testified, "In order to cause fetal demise, it would be necessary to give the mother dangerous and life-threatening doses of anesthesia." Experts have testified that the fetus is fully capable of experiencing pain at the age where the partial-birth abortions are performed.

The line drawings of the procedure circulated by NRLC are misleading. False.

Dr. Haskell stated that the drawings were accurate "from a technical point of view."