Curmudgeon's Corner

This Subject Is Taboo...

Posted by Al Campbell on Feb. 6, 2009

Healthcare, Political, Quality of Life, Taxes, Wisconsin

Abortion is in the news and it probably is a subject that I should avoid...but I cannot do so in good conscience.

The University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority Board has approved second-trimester abortions being performed at a UW-owned surgery center.  It professes that this is necessary because it will protect the health of the woman.

I listened to an interview by Vicki McKenna (WISN1130 AM) of a New Mexico physician who had formerly been an abortionist in New York state.  He reported doing some 1,200 abortions in his clinic.  Of that number, 1,100 were first-trimester and 100 were second-trimester.  He was asked of the 100 second-trimester abortions he had performed, how many were done to protect the health of the mother.  His answer was none.  He was asked of the 100 second-trimester abortions he had done, how many were performed as the result of rape or incest.  His answer was none.  He said those situations were regularly handled in hospitals and were done in the first trimester.

Those are the arguments that were made by the UW system as this was debated.  It appears their argument was a bit disingenuous based on this abortionist's experience.

His explanation of the technique employed in second-trimester abortions was almost more than I could bear, and yet it was simply a very clinical discussion of the procedure.  He did say that it was difficult to hire and retain nurses for this work and that turn-over was very high. 

I understand that there is a continuing valid debate in our country over the general subject of abortion, and I try to understand the side that favors these on demand versus those that would say they ought to be made available but only in certain cases such as the mother's health, rape or incest.  I understand that our country is roughly evenly divided over this topic.  I also recognize that this law isn't likely to change in the near future and maybe not ever.

But, try as I might, I cannot get my head wrapped around second-trimester abortions.  I understand that abortions are performed at later stages of pregnancy and that those are probably protected by our courts.  I still cannot get my head wrapped around these second-trimester or later procedures except in the very rare instance of the mother's health condition.