Partial birth abortion, a procedure that involves dismemberment and crushing the skull of an unborn child, resembles something out of a horror instead of a medical practice. The procedure, contrary to what proponents say, is also very brutal and painful to the unborn child. That is why I am proud to have voted for the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 281-142 last week. It is time we put an end to this inhumane and gruesome practice.
Most partial birth abortions are preformed between 5 and 6 months. Yet even at 4½ months (20 weeks), perinatologists say that if a baby is expelled or removed completely from the uterus, it will usually gasp for breath and sometimes survive for hours. Experts agree that the process is cruel and unnecessary. The American Medical Association has endorsed a ban on partial birth abortion. AMA Executive Vice President P. John Seward, M.D., recently wrote to Senator Rick Santorum, “Thank you for the opportunity to work with you towards restricting a procedure we all agree is not good medicine.”
The majority of these abortions are preformed for “mental” reasons rather than the “physical health” of the mother. This ban includes an exception for those situations in which a partial-birth abortion is deemed necessary to save the life of the mother. Yet, this procedure involves 3-5 days of painful preparation, and a majority of life saving operations would require a much more timely action. This procedure, that is more infanticide than abortion, must be stopped as an elective for terminating a pregnancy.
There is a myth that not many of these abortions are performed. Last year 1,500 were done in New Jersey and estimates show that, at the very least, over 25,000 were done in the U.S. Even more terrifying is the fact that all of those killings were legal. I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror if I did not do all that I could to make sure the laws changed to correct that injustice.
The Senate is expected to pass the bill, and it will then be sent to the President for his approval.
Fortunately, we have a president who places high value on human life, and he has vowed to sign this bill into law. When he does we should all rejoice that an evil practice has been put to rest.