Abortion

The English government has announced that the DIY abortion scheme, introduced due to the coronavirus epidemic, will end in August 2022. Previous abortion measures will then be reinstated which involved an in-person consultation before taking the first pill. Since the approval of DIY abortion two years ago abortion rates have reached their highest rate with an estimated 200,000 women self-managing their medical abortion at home.

The Welsh assembly, despite coming under the same health laws as the English government, has made the DIY abortion measures permanent. The Welsh assembly claims they are supporting women and are providing safe benefits for women who wish to have an abortion. This directly contradicts the central health department who have made the decision to end the DIY abortion scheme because the safety and wellbeing of women is their foremost priority.

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A consultant cardiologist and past president of the Catholic Medical Association (UK), Dr Kearney, is currently prohibited from providing abortion pill reversal (APR). A tribunal ruled that Dr Kearney is no longer allowed to provide treatment to women who regret taking medication to abort their unborn baby. This interim order was put in place on January 2022 and will be reviewed at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 February 2022. Lawyers will argue that the prohibition should be reversed. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, states “we have seen many women immediately regret taking the first abortion pill. Dr. Kearney offers the possibility of saving the pregnancy when this happens. He should have the freedom to do it”.

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Abortion

Australia – Four Abortion clinics close down

In November 2020 Marie Stopes International was renamed “MSI Reproductive Choices” due to Stopes’ well-documented views on eugenics. Marie Stopes Australia has closed four of its Queensland clinics located in Townsville, Rockhampton, Southport, and Newcastle. The managing director also blamed “stigma” on killing unborn children, which meant that they were not getting any women coming in. MSI now plans to focus on making abortion pills available via telemed also known as ‘DIY’ abortion program. DIY abortion has raised concerns among medical professionals in multiple countries believing this would not benefit women who are trafficked or in hostage situations. Sexually abused minors held captive by their perpetrator and the danger of unsupervised abortion procedures were also concerning. More

USA – Supreme Court refuses to block Texas law banning abortion

The US Supreme Court has refused to block a Texas law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy – which is when the babies’ heartbeat is detected. With a 5-4 vote, justices denied an emergency request by abortion providers for an injunction that would stop the legislation from being enforced while it is challenged in the courts. Private citizens can sue abortion providers and facilitators for at least $10,000 to enforce the law. Those liable even include anyone who drives a woman to a clinic so she can terminate her pregnancy. The Texas law, signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott said on Twitter “Starting today, every unborn child with a heartbeat will be protected from the ravages of abortion,” “Texas will always defend the right to life.” More

USA – Numerous states plan to follow Texas abortion ban

Numerous states – including Florida, Arkansas, North Dakota – may follow Texas‘ newly-implemented ‘heartbeat’ bill and pass similar laws after the supreme court’s upholding of the legislation triggered renewed optimism among pro-life lawmakers. The ‘Texas Heartbeat Act,’ which took effect earlier this week, bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, usually around six weeks, before a woman even realizes she’s pregnant. It makes no exceptions for women who became pregnant via rape or incest. However, it does allow a woman to terminate her pregnancy if carrying a baby to term would put her health at risk. The Supreme Court’s decision was nearly enough to bring Idaho’s fetal heartbeat law into effect. Idaho’s legislation, approved in April by Governor Brad Little, is a trigger law that allows the state to enforce an abortion ban if other states do so. But since the federal court didn’t rule on the Texas law’s constitutionality, its decision was not enough to enact Idaho’s legislation. More

USA – South Dakota signs order to block telemedicine abortions

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has issued an executive order that restricts telemedicine abortion by declaring abortion drugs may only be prescribed or dispensed by a physician who is licensed in South Dakota after an in-person examination. It also blocks abortion-inducing drugs from being provided via courier, deliver, telemedicine or mail service. The order also prevents abortion-inducing drugs from being dispensed or provided in school or on state grounds. The order directs South Dakota’s Department of Health to collect data on how often chemical abortions are performed as a percentage of all abortions, including how often women experience complications that require a medical follow-up; and enhance reporting requirements on emergency room complications related to chemical abortion. More.

Argentina – Medical Association: says abortion law unethical

Recently Argentina passed abortion laws for up to 14 weeks of pregnancy and The National Academy of Medicine in Argentina has warned that the abortion law violates the fundamental principles of the ethics of medicine and the defense of life. The academy reiterated “its respect for life from the moment of fertilization,” and criticized the euphemistic definition of abortion as “as access to the voluntary interruption of pregnancy.” The law goes as far as prohibiting conscientious objection, and ignores parental rights when a 14-year-old girl can request an abortion without the knowledge and approval of her parents. More

USA – Florida Abortionist who endangered women now closed

A Florida abortionist owning Venice Women’s Health Center in Port Charlotte has closed his clinic for good after women’s watchdog group investigated his practice. Reprotection, a national group that works to shut down dangerous abortion providers, began its investigation into the clinic after it received reports from pro-life sidewalk counselors who were outside of the clinic at the time learned that the woman had been in the midst of an abortion procedure when she left. The sidewalk counselors helped her obtain emergency medical care.

Reprotection filed several complaints with the Florida government, including with the state health department’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance and Division of Health Quality Assurance, alleging that Azima was a grave threat to the health and safety of Florida women. The group also filed complaints with the state’s elected officials and the governor’s office. The Florida health department ended up opening its own investigation, shortly after which the abortion clinic shut down. During its yearlong investigation, Reprotection found that Azima has an extensive history of medical negligence, including a previous medical license suspension. More

Abortion

UK – Gender-based violence occur on unborn babies

According to a new study, published in the British Medical Journal, various countries have a skewed sex ratio at birth in favour of boys because of prenatal ‘sex selection’ and suggests that the world could lose 4.7 million girls by 2030, and as many as 22 million by 2100. The issue of gendercide warns that global population stability is at risk due to ‘cultural preferences’ for male children. Dr Fengqing Chao, lead author of the research and an advisor to the United Nations Population Division, warns that ‘Fewer than expected females in a population could result in elevated levels of antisocial behaviour and violence and may ultimately affect long-term stability and social sustainable development.’ More

USA – University Suspected of Harvesting organs from live aborted infants

Recent statements from the University of Pittsburgh indicate that one of its federally funded research projects uses organs that might have been extracted from live aborted infants. For David Daleiden and others, blood flow raises questions about cardiac activity, which in turn, raises questions about whether the fetus is alive. Dr Christina Francis, of the American Association of Pro-Life Gynecologists (AAPLOG), agreed with Daleiden. She said if the university statement says ischemia time starts after tissue collection, and that means that the baby is still alive at the time that they are harvesting the tissue. She likened the practices to those of the infamous Kermit Gosnell. “It’s horrific and does not constitute good science or compassionate medical care.” More

Russia – Physician launches Progesterone therapy for abortion regret

Russian physician Alexey Fokin started helping women reverse chemical abortion affects from mifepristone. In an email interview, Fokin explained how the calls coming in asking for help with reversal meant that this was not a rare situation among women, and since mifepristone is very affordable and easily available everywhere, women were prone to taking mifepristone very instantly, impulsively, and without strong decision. With the incoming calls for reversal, he says it meant that many more women experience wanting to turn back and save their babies. Dr Fokin launched a website in 2018 and was surprised at the amount of visitors to his website which translated the progesterone therapy into Russian, and then reached 20,000-30,000 views. He now offers this therapy for such women in Russia. More

Scotland – Mistaken pregnancy termination case before High Court

The High Court has approved a hearing of an action by a couple who claim their unborn child was aborted after they were wrongly told it had a fatal foetal abnormality. They have, in separate proceedings, taken actions for damages against Dublin private clinic, Merrion Fetal Health, five of its medical consultants and the National Maternity Hospital (NMH), to which the clinic is affiliated. Scotland’s Greater Glasgow Health Board has also joined as a defendant because its laboratory allegedly carried out some of the testing at the centre of the claims. The woman claims she had a scan at 12 weeks of her pregnancy on February 21st, 2019 which showed everything was normal. A week later, she got a phone call from one of the defendant consultants and was told that a DNA test, the Harmony Test, showed positive for a syndrome known as Trisomy 18 which results in abnormalities in babies.

A further scan was carried out and it was normal but the woman was then advised to undergo a test on the placenta known as Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) which was sent to the Glasgow laboratory. She claims her consultant advised the pregnancy was non-viable and there was no point in waiting for a full analysis of the results. This is known as the Karyotype test which examines all the chromosomes inside cells for anything unusual. She says she relied totally on this advice and the termination was carried out on March 14th 2019 in the clinic. Subsequently, she claims, the full Karyotype analysis was provided to her and, she says, showed her unborn child did not have Trisomy 18 and was a normal healthy baby boy. More

USA – Pro-abortion medical organisation should update claims on fetal pain

A researcher is calling on the pro-abortion American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to update its information concerning fetal pain to bring it in line with current research. ACOG currently relies on outdated research to claim that preborn children are incapable of feeling pain until “at least 24 weeks” (6 months). John Bockmann was working on his master’s thesis for a military physician’s assistant (PA) program, and decided to research fetal pain. This led him to British professor Stuart Derbyshire, an abortion supporter, whose work in a New York Times article seemed to contradict his earlier research on fetal pain. So, Bockmann reached out to Derbyshire as a friend instead of with anger or hostility, the two men were able to do important scientific research. While Derbyshire still supports legal abortion, he has since changed his mind on fetal pain. Their partnership led to the ground-breaking new research proving that preborn children can feel pain by 12 weeks (3 months). Researcher calls on ACOG to update, Study, About the Researcher.

Abortion

World – Abortion by telehealth increases risks of complications for women

England, Scotland, and Wales have allowed ‘at-home’ abortions during the coronavirus pandemic and a similar policy is to be implemented in Northern Ireland. Recent reports and request for data documents show there are major concerns with this policy. A recent Sky News documentary on the scheme stated, “5% of women who have at-home abortions will suffer complications that may need follow-up treatment or surgery”. Such complications present an even greater threat to women in rural areas where access to emergency healthcare is more challenging. In England, 86% of women expressed concern about the risk abortion coercion, and 83% were concerned about abortion pills being falsely obtained for another person. Similar polling results manifested in Scotland. Majority of GPs remain anxious about it as well. More

USA – Double-talk on abortion helps no one

Dr Christina Francis, a practising obstetrician-gynaecologist in association with of the American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNs, calls the pro-abortion lobby’s, Women’s Health Protection Act, doublespeak that endangers women and children. The Act comes as a response to the Supreme Court’s announcement of taking up a case that challenges the core tenets of Roe v. Wade. Dr Francis explains that even with advancements in medical science, preterm birth continues to plague modern society, resulting in more than 3 million infant deaths worldwide each year. And abortions are driving that number up. Preterm birth risk increases by 30% for women who previously had surgical abortions and if they had two the risk increases nearly 90%.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, the overwhelming majority of abortions in the U.S. are performed for socioeconomic and not medical reasons. Even so, pro-choice advocates pretend that abortion and women’s health are one and the same. They are not, and in fact, there are thousands of cases each year of abortions causing lasting damage to a woman’s health. The Women’s Health Protection Act seeks to eliminate nearly all state laws regulating abortion. Dr Francis calls for honesty regarding the health risks associated with abortion and for abortion advocates to stop hiding behind doublespeak, like “women’s health” or “reproductive choice,” that is doing active harm to both women and children. More

Spain – Medical Council rejects abortion amendment law

The General Council of Official Medical Colleges (CGCOM) responded to proposed changes to Spain’s abortion law, which would in effect force physicians to perform abortions and nullify conscientious objection. The medical body said it is illegal and unjust to force the conscience of physicians in order to expand physician availability on abortions in all communities. This came two weeks after the European Parliament adopted a report seeking to redefine conscientious objection as a “denial of medical care.” More

UK – Experts call for policy changes in abortion

In the UK current abortion policy allows abortion up to 24 weeks. A group of experts in a new book called “Missing Millions” are calling for changes to the current abortion policy citing evidence that show the unborn baby can feel pain from as early as 12 weeks. Dr. Maureen Condic, Ph.D., an associate professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Utah, testified before Congress concerning fetal pain, and explained that the spinal reflex is the “neural circuitry responsible for the most primitive response to pain.” By 12-18 weeks, the preborn child is “capable of mature pain perception,” she explained. Foetologist Albert Iiley of the University of Auckland confirmed this, saying that the spinal reflexes are developed enough for the preborn baby to feel pain just 56 days — eight weeks — after fertilization. As the facts about fetal pain grow, it is crucial to start re-examining outdated policies that don’t align with current research and to begin passing laws that prohibit abortion — not only due to pain, but to protect a baby’s life at all stages of development. More

Abortion

USA – Abortion clinic asks women for their aborted babies in medical research

A New Mexico late-term abortion clinic has partnered with the University of New Mexico by donating body parts of aborted babies to be used in medical research. The clinic started issuing consent forms to mothers for their babies to be used in medical research. The original consent form only included one sentence concerning the donation of the babies’ bodies without providing any further details. In the winter of 2015/2016, the abortion clinic began using a new form. This form provides an entire page of information on the donation of aborted babies for research. Since implementing this new form, the donation of aborted babies to the university dropped drastically. More

UK – Medics call for an end to abortion pills by post

In an open letter, more than 600 medics call for an end to the controversial ‘pills in the post’ abortion scheme introduced at the start of COVID-10 lockdown. The letter cited evidence that some pills mailed after phone or online consultations were used when foetuses were beyond the stipulated ten-week limit – and even after the 24-week upper limit for surgical abortions. They argue that the new rules also made it easier for men to coerce women into abortions against their will and failed to protect girls who were being abused by adults, or women trafficked into prostitution. The medics are supported by several Tory MPs, including Scott Benton, who said: ‘This not a debate about abortion itself, it is about ensuring women are safe.’ More

USA – New peer-reviewed study refutes abortion as “essential” for child- spacing

A new peer-reviewed study by the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), the second in a series of  peer-reviewed studies from CLI, shows that when a woman’s first pregnancy ends in abortion, it decreases the likelihood that any upcoming pregnancy will result in birth. They also found that for both women with and without abortions between children, healthy child- spacing intervals can be attained without resorting to abortion, and were within the recommended guidelines of 18 to 60 months. The paper is published online in the peer-reviewed Journal of Primary Care and Community Health. This research confirms the exact opposite of what abortion-supportive academics, including those at the American Public Health Association and the American College of OB-GYNs have asserted for decades. More, 2nd Series research.

South Africa – High Court claims being wanted or unwanted decides humanity of the unborn

On 26 March 2021, the Pretoria High Court handed down its judgment in The Voice of the Unborn Baby court case declaring that grieving parents of miscarried babies “have the right to bury the dead child”. However, parents of unborn babies that were lost due to medical negligence and abortion was denied. According to the court’s ruling, the humanity of wanted babies is recognised and protected when they are wanted but unwanted (aborted) babies are denied their humanity. The remains of unwanted babies are not ‘human’ but medical waste. The only difference between the remains of wanted and unwanted babies who died before live birth is their mother’s preference. More

Tanzania – Commences crack down on abortion pills

The Tanzanian government will begin cracking down on pharmacies and other establishments selling emergency contraceptive pills, commonly known as P2, and abortion pills (misoprostol) without prescription. Ms Elizabeth Shekalaghe, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council recognized that dangerous tablets such as misoprostol and P2 are being used contrary to government’s intentions. They are encouraging members of the public to report establishments that are selling medicines illegally. This follows a complaint made by citizens that say the government have failed to protect them against these medicines because young people are using them incorrectly. More

Abortion

UK – Many Politicians hear evidence from experts on dangers of DIY abortions

In the last week of March 2021, a large number of Politicians attended a webinar to hear evidence from experts on the dangers of DIY abortions that put women at risk. Dr Calum Miller, an NHS (National Health Services) doctor and research associate at the University of Oxford who specialises in abortion policy, showed the inherent flaws in the practice of ‘telemed’ abortions. He provided evidence to politicians not only of the medical risks involved but also of how easy it was for coercion to take place.

Kevin Duffy, a former Global Director of Clinics Development at one of the world’s largest abortion providers, Marie Stopes International (now MSI Reproductive Choices) highlighted many serious medical risks and safety concerns arising from DIY abortions. In particular, Duffy provided evidence that there is massive underreporting of medical complications arising from DIY abortions. How? He used data obtained largely from Freedom of Information Requests sent to six different NHS trusts/hospitals. Further analysis of the data shows that “every month, 495 women attended hospital with complications arising from retained products of conception (RPOC) after a medical abortion.

Every month, 250 women after using the abortion pills, required hospital treatment to surgically remove retained baby body parts. Quoting several sources, Dr Calum Miller, noted that “abusers might be listening in on [telemedicine phone consultation] conversations” said the New England Journal of Medicine; “Consultations, when possible, are offered online, which may introduce further barriers to accessing support” said the UN Office of Drugs and Crime; and some women’s “living arrangements may not permit the privacy and confidentiality appropriate for patient care” said the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr Miller referred to recent research on the subject as well, noting one study which found that a quarter of women seeking an abortion were pressured by a partner to do so. Polling from earlier this year shows 87% of GPs were concerned that women were at risk of unwanted abortion arising from domestic abuse by partners controlling or monitoring their actions.

Similarly, recent polling of the general public found 86% of women were concerned about women being at risk of being coerced into an abortion by a partner or family member during the ‘at-home’ abortion process. Furthermore, 86% of GPs surveyed across the UK were concerned about women having a medical abortion past the legal limitof ten weeks’ gestation. Concern was highest among female doctors (91%). More

USA – New longitudinal study shows Abortion causes mental health problems

A new study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that abortion not only aggravates pre-existing mental illness but also can mark the onset of problems for women with no history of psychiatric disorders. The researchers examined more than 1.9 million medical claim records of women that induced abortion or had miscarriage of a first pregnancy and found that it increased the risk of postpartum mental health problems by 10 to 35%. It is the first peer-reviewed study to carefully control variables related to a prior history of mental illness and the timing of the first episode of mental health problems.  Lead author of the study Dr David Reardon is not surprised with the results and says “There is no question about the fact that abortion can aggravate pre-existing mental illness. But there are also women who report that the abortion marked the onset of problems that did not previously exist. Our data confirms that both pathways are true.” “Unresolved memories and feelings about pregnancy loss can lead to postpartum depression and even psychosis during a subsequent pregnancy.

Unresolved emotions will demand one’s attention sooner or later. I have spent the last 35 years treating pregnancy loss and unresolved grief for those struggling in the aftermath of an abortion which left them shattered with sadness, heartache, guilt, shame and anger. Many learned to numb themselves with alcohol and drugs. Some re-enact their abortion experience with promiscuity and repeat abortions, trapped in traumatic cycles of abandonment and rejection. Others suffer eating disorders, panic attacks, depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Some have permanent physical and reproductive damage that rendered them unable to have children in the future. The excruciating level of pain I have witnessed inspired me to establish a treatment model to address the unique and complicated grief for both women and men who have lost a child through abortion. That program, Rachel’s Vineyard, is a psychological and spiritual journey for healing after abortion that has spread to more than 80 countries and is offered in dozens of languages throughout the world. Pregnancy loss is a death experience. It is the demise of human potential, relationship, responsibility, maternal attachment, connectedness, and innocence. Such a loss is rarely experienced without conflict and ambivalence.” MDPI, Lifesite News

USA – FDA endangers women by lifting safety restrictions on abortion pills

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has planned to lift safety restrictions on abortion pills that get posted to women without in-person consultation. The American Association of Prolife Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) who represents 7,000 women’s healthcare practitioners, have expressed deep concern in over the FDA’s decision and have issued a statement detailing their concerns has healthcare practitioners who will not support this due it jeopardizing the lives of their patients. A recent analysis of the Adverse Events submitted to the FDA with the safety restrictions in place shows over 3000 women suffering with complications, of which 24 of these women died, and another 500 would have died if they had not reached emergency medical care in time. These numbers will only increase if the current safety restrictions, that require a woman be seen and evaluated by a licensed healthcare practitioner before receiving abortion pills, are removed. This requirement is not restrictive – it is protective.

Many women are pressured into abortions by their partner, a family member, or a trafficker. Oftentimes, their visit with a physician in early pregnancy is the only chance these women will have to expose this pressure they’re facing. Screening for abuse and trafficking is inadequate during a telemed visit because the physician cannot control the environment of the woman on the other end of the screen, or know who is hovering behind the computer screen. AAPLOG would like the FDA and American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to explain why women seeking abortions deserve substandard medical care that places their lives at risk. AAPLOG, AAPLOG

UK – Influential committee criticizes legislation without discussion

Very influential, The Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC), a body within the House of Lords that scrutinizes proposed legislation, has released its Fifty First Report which draws “special attention” to Northern Ireland abortion regulations which enable Brandon Lewis to take action on rolling out abortion services in Northern Ireland. The committee pointed out that preventing discussion before the legislation takes effect “is particularly inappropriate when that policy is likely to be controversial, and the House may wish to ask the Minister to explain that decision”. In addition to its criticism of the swift passing of this legislation, the SLSC was able to pose a series of questions raising points that had been made by organizations, including Right To Life UK, in their submissions to the Committee. Publications Parliament, Right to Life

USA – Elective abortions for medical research resume

Federal officials have removed the Trump Administration restrictions on elective abortion fetal tissue for medical research. Government scientists will now continue to use fetal tissue that has in the past led to treatments for a variety of diseases, including COVID-19. Scientists at universities also can now apply for federal grants without getting approval from a special ethics panel for any such work. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra determined there were “no new ethical issues that require special review,” so the agency will return to using procedures that had been in place for decades before then-President Donald Trump’s administration changed the policy in June 2019, a statement from the agency said. More

Abortion

New Zealand – Doctors sue to regain conscientious objection rights

Last year, New Zealand (NZ) passed abortion laws which decriminalized abortion up to 20 weeks and severely undermining conscientious objection for pro-life physicians. A physician refusing to do abortions should provide contact information of one nearby. The New Zealand Health Professionals Alliance went to NZ’s High Court arguing that the current abortion law makes pro-life physicians part of the “chain of causation that leads to taking a human life.” President of the NZ pro-abortion group equated conscientious objection to harassment which is gross mischaracterization. Physicians can decline to participate in abortion while maintaining respect for their patients. More

UK – Wales: 100% increase in ambulance calls since DIY abortion pills

A Freedom of Information request revealed a 100% increase in ambulance call-outs to women taking abortion pills at home. Originally sanctioned as a temporary measure to reduce transmission of Covid-19 during the pandemic in March 2020, the Welsh Government followed England in introducing DIY abortions. In December 2020 they began evaluating whether to end it. This information comes at the same time as evidence emerging of massive underreporting of complications arising from DIY abortions. In December 2020, Baroness Philippa Stroud, a prominent member of the House of Lords has called on the Government withdraw provision of ‘DIY’ home abortions given the potential for serious complications, coercion from abusive partners and inability to verify gestational age over the phone.

Wales: 100% increase in ambulance calls for women taking ‘DIY’ abortion pills at home | Lockdown regulation enabling at-home abortions putting women at risk, says MS | Prominent peer speaks out against ‘dangerous’ DIY home abortion scheme

USA – 20 State Attorneys General filed amicus briefs in support of journalist

Twenty state attorney’s general and several non-profit organizations have filed amicus briefs at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Sandra Merritt and her colleague, David Daleiden. They argue that the lower court’s decision against Merritt and Daleiden will harm First Amendment journalism, which often uses undercover recordings to reveal crime and abuse. The lawsuit is with regards to their undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood’s trafficking of human baby body parts. The Attorneys General from 20 states argue in their brief that the trial court erred in excluding the public policy defense, because the videos were used by law enforcement authorities – including some of these amici themselves – to successfully investigate and prosecute wrongdoers. More

USA – Study shows legalized abortion does not improve maternal mortality

A new 10-year study highlighted by the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) prove that Restrictions on abortion do not lead to an increase in women dying due to a lack of “safe” abortions. The study was published in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal Open, which examined maternal mortality in 32 Mexican states over a 10-year period, between 2002 and 2011. The study acknowledging the pro-abortion argument that “the legal status of abortion … is a factor that influences maternal health.” They also acknowledged the common argument that restrictions on abortion are thought to lead to “clandestine, or illegal, or unsafe abortions” leading to an increase in maternal deaths. 

But instead of discovering data in support of that argument, the study instead found that “states with less permissive abortion legislation exhibited lower MMR [maternal mortality rates]” (emphasis added) than those where abortion laws are more permissive. In other words, pro-life restrictions on abortion did not result in higher maternal mortality rates. To be clear, the Mexico study’s authors did not find evidence that abortion restrictions were the cause of better maternal outcomes. As AAPLOG’s tweet pointed out, “non-legislative factors (female literacy, birth weight, skilled attendance at birth, clean water, etc.) were leading causes” in the lower maternal mortality rates in the states with more abortion restrictions.  The pro-abortion journal called Contraception attempted a rebuttal attacking the authors’ use of the underlying data while also engaging in ad hominem attacks by saying the Mexico study’s authors “have failed to respond to anti-abortion ‘junk science,’ which influences policy in the region,” Yet the critique did not hold up to scrutiny. After an examination of the data and counter-argument in the paper, major statistical error in key calculations of the rebuttal that undermined the published conclusions, were discovered. More

Abortion

World – Country and U.S. state-wide developments on abortion

Here is a list of abortion legislation developments that took place in February this year. Goldsmith becomes 19^th city in Texas to ban abortion within its limits. Tennessee state introduced a bill in which allows fathers to prevent an abortion. South Carolina state Governor signed into law that abortions are banned when the baby’s heartbeat can be detected but was blocked by planned parenthood lawsuit. South Dakota’s bill that requires doctors who deliver babies after a failed abortion attempt is to give them the same care they would any other baby was signed into law. Arizona, Florida and Northern Ireland are advancing similar legislation to end abortion up to birth for babies with disabilities which include down’s syndrome, cleft lip and club foot.

Australia has launched a bill to protect babies born alive after a failed abortion. Indiana House Lawmakers showed overwhelming support for a bill that is heading to the senate which would ensure that mothers receive information about their unborn baby’s development and the abortion pill reversal procedure before going through with an abortion. Arkansas passed a bill that bans abortions unless it would save the mother’s life and is heading to the Republican-controlled state House, which is expected to approve it as well.

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