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Rob Giunta's avatar

The word ordeal is barely adequate to this horrific story. But stories like this are not justification to abort a fully formed baby. As it turns out, both mother and baby are doing well after 13 years, showing that abortion after 8 months was not medically necessary in this case, but rather a more expedient choice during a period of terrible duress - when life and death decisions are most likely to be flawed.

I think most Americans see the 15-week milestone as a reasonable point to stop abortion at will for any reason. After that, I think most Americans support the mother’s right to survive should a pregnancy be determined to be dangerous to her life. Besides the mother, there is another human life involved here too, and as a moral and ethical species, we should not forget to speak up for that life too. It is true that we have all passed through that stage of development on our journey to our current selves, a perspective we should all bear in mind. In the case where the unborn is not viable or has a debilitating condition, there is again a reasonable case to be made to abort after 15 weeks when that condition is first detected.

The problem with unlimited access at any time being a LAW is that such a law codifies terminating a life for possibly frivolous reasons. We don’t allow anyone to terminate another life for a frivolous reason any other time, so why here? If it is to keep doctors from fearing lawsuits, let’s have the conversation to see how we could mitigate those concerns. We have found a way for self-defense and war. I think consensus could be reached on that. Since so few abortions are done in late term, this shouldn’t impact many mothers to be. And once consensus is reached, it will eventually be accepted by the population and become more uniformly applied in the law.

This story tells of a horrific experience, and it must have been awful. But congratulations on the outcome. And there is no doubt that even with that experience, this mother would never allow anyone to prematurely end her son’s life now. We need more expectant mothers to act this way.

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RMac's avatar

This is a very thoughtful and considerate response, to which I fully agree. There is nothing to look at more closely. If the decision comes down to mother or child, the only person who gets to make that decision is the mother (if she is able). We simply cannot be either or, pro-choice or pro-life, as most try to force upon us. It is simply not that simple. What is required is profound respect and responsibility.

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Joe Horton's avatar

Seems a reasonable, balanced way of looking at the issues.

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Apr 20, 2023Edited
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Sherri Resor's avatar

No one knew she would have a partial placental abruption at anytime during her uncomfortable ordeal on bed rest at home and in the hospital. It has zero to do with abortion. Actually nothing in her story has anything to do with abortion.

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Lynne Morris's avatar

No she would not have died necessarily.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19813679/

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Apr 20, 2023Edited
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Lynne Morris's avatar

Get over yourself. You do not get to decide the appropriateness of my response. And anyone who uses the term "you people" is not worth my time.

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Apr 20, 2023
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Lynne Morris's avatar

Emotion. Emotion. And more emotion. You really need to work on your persuasive skills.

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Apr 21, 2023
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Lynne Morris's avatar

Good thing because you are not good at it. You disavow attempts to persuade then go on to reference the complexities of the debate. Rich. You follow that with a warning. You are oblivious to the fact that you brook no disagreement with your values which is precisely what you critique others for doing. Frankly you sound unhinged.

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