Changes

It is inhumane to subject mothers to overcrowded post-[[abortion]] facilities like that.  [[Planned Parenthood]] enjoys an annual profit of over $50 million as the [[United States]]' largest [[abortion]] provider,<ref>http://www.lifeissues.org/pp/index.html</ref> but a clinic pleads poverty in complying with a new Missouri law requiring the same conditions for abortion patients as other surgical patients.

It is inhumane to subject mothers to overcrowded post-[[abortion]] facilities like that.  [[Planned Parenthood]] enjoys an annual profit of over $50 million as the [[United States]]' largest [[abortion]] provider,<ref>http://www.lifeissues.org/pp/index.html</ref> but a clinic pleads poverty in complying with a new Missouri law requiring the same conditions for abortion patients as other surgical patients.

Missouri merely extended a law that already exists for outpatient (ambulatory) surgical centers to [[abortion]].  Missouri's Ambulatory Surgical Center Licensing Law ("the Act") was amended effective August 28, 2007.<ref>Codified at section 197.200 of the Revised Missouri Statutes.</ref> Prior to the amendment the Act defined an ambulatory surgical center as any "establishment operated primarily for the purpose of performing surgical procedures or primarily for the purpose of performing childbirths and which does not provide ... accommodations for patients to stay more than twenty-three hours ...." The amendment expands the definition to include any establishment that performs five or more first trimester abortions per month or any second or third trimester abortions.

[[Missouri]] merely extended a law that already exists for ambulatory surgical centers.  Missouri's Ambulatory Surgical Center Licensing Law ("the Act") was amended effective August 28, 2007.<ref>Codified at section 197.200 of the Revised Missouri Statutes.</ref> Prior to the amendment the Act defined an ambulatory surgical center as any "establishment operated primarily for the purpose of performing surgical procedures or primarily for the purpose of performing childbirths and which does not provide ... accommodations for patients to stay more than twenty-three hours ...." The amendment expands the definition to include any establishment that performs five or more first trimester abortions per month or any second or third trimester abortions.

Though the ''L.A. Times'' article admits to overcrowding, it misleads the public in several ways.  The article conceals how the Missouri law applies to all [[abortion]]s equally, and the [[federal]] judge's injunction against the law permits second and third trimester [[abortions]] to be performed at these overcrowded clinics.  The judge heard arguments Monday on making his injunction permanent.

Though the ''L.A. Times'' article admits to the crowding, it misleads the public in several ways.  The article conceals how the Missouri law applies to all [[abortion]]s equally, and the [[federal]] judge's injunction against the law has the effect of permitting second and third trimester [[abortions]] to be performed at overcrowded clinics.  The judge heard arguments Monday on making his injunction permanent.

The article quotes three individuals who profit from [[abortion]] and oppose the law before quoting a defense of this law:  "We're applying the same standards of healthcare to abortion clinics as we are to other medical facilities," said Pam Fichter, development director of Missouri Right to Life.

The ''L.A. Times'' quotes three individuals who profit from [[abortion]] and oppose the law before quoting any defense of this law:  "We're applying the same standards of healthcare to abortion clinics as we are to other medical facilities," said Pam Fichter, development director of Missouri Right to Life.

== Point-by-Point Rebuttal ==

== Point-by-Point Rebuttal ==

'''Point 1''':  "A first-trimester surgical abortion takes about two minutes."

'''Point 1''':  "A first-trimester surgical abortion takes about two minutes."

'''False'''.  It takes many times longer than that, even if there are no complications.<ref>http://www.bvwhc.org/Method%20Comparison%20Eng.doc</ref>  If there are complications, then it has to be repeated.  Many are done under general anesthesia, which of course takes far longer still.

'''False'''.  It takes many times longer than that, even if there are no complications.<ref>http://www.bvwhc.org/Method%20Comparison%20Eng.doc</ref>  If there are complications, then it has to be repeated.  Many [[abortions]] are under general anesthesia, which of course takes longer still.

Tonsillectomies and colonoscopies have been subject to this [[Missouri]] law, and they do not require any more time than [[abortion]]s do.

Tonsillectomies and colonoscopies have been subject to this [[Missouri]] law, and they do not require any more time than [[abortion]]s.

'''Point 2''':  "After, patients at the Planned Parenthood clinic here walk down a dimly lighted hall to a small, spare recovery room, where they rest in recliners, a box of tissues by each chair. Most are cleared to go home after 15 minutes."

'''Point 2''':  "After, patients at the Planned Parenthood clinic here walk down a dimly lighted hall to a small, spare recovery room, where they rest in recliners, a box of tissues by each chair. Most are cleared to go home after 15 minutes."

'''Point 3''':  "They have enacted the most far-reaching regulations in the nation -- dictating the physical layout, staffing and record-keeping policies of any facility that performs five or more abortions a month, including private doctors' offices that regularly prescribe the abortion pill."

'''Point 3''':  "They have enacted the most far-reaching regulations in the nation -- dictating the physical layout, staffing and record-keeping policies of any facility that performs five or more abortions a month, including private doctors' offices that regularly prescribe the abortion pill."

'''Misleading''':  This law is no different from what is required for other ambulatory surgery centers.  The complaining [[Planned Parenthood]] clinic does surgical [[abortion]], so the point about the [[abortion]] pill does not apply to it.  As to doctors' offices, very few prescribe this dangerous abortion pill, which causes bleeding, pain and higher complications.  It is reasonable to require safe facilities of providers profiting from [[abortion]].

'''Misleading''':  This law is no different from what is required for other ambulatory surgery centers.  The complaining [[Planned Parenthood]] clinic does surgical [[abortion]], so the point about the [[abortion]] pill does not apply to it.  As to doctors' offices, very few prescribe this dangerous abortion pill, which causes bleeding, pain and higher complications.  It is reasonable to require safe facilities of providers who do profit from [[abortion]].

'''Point 4''':  "The law would put providers of five or more abortions a month in the same regulatory category as outpatient surgical centers that perform a wide range of procedures, some under general anesthesia, including tonsillectomies, cardiac catheterization, hernia repair, cataract removal and colonoscopy."

'''Point 4''':  "The law would put providers of five or more abortions a month in the same regulatory category as outpatient surgical centers that perform a wide range of procedures, some under general anesthesia, including tonsillectomies, cardiac catheterization, hernia repair, cataract removal and colonoscopy."

'''Misleading''': Abortion is often done under general anesthesia, and the above procedures are often done without general anesthesia.  There is no reason why [[abortion]]ists should get by with facilities less adequate than facilities for tonsillectomies or colonoscopies.

'''Misleading''': [[Abortion]] is often done under general anesthesia, which is more serious, while the above procedures are often done without general anesthesia.  There is no reason why [[abortion]]ists should get by with facilities less adequate than what is required for the less serious tonsillectomies or colonoscopies.

'''Point 5''': "'This is really a case to watch,' said Belinda Bulger, deputy legal director of NARAL Pro-Choice America. 'The anti-choice movement has discovered that this is a good tactic for them. ... It certainly has us concerned.'"

'''Point 5''': "'This is really a case to watch,' said Belinda Bulger, deputy legal director of NARAL Pro-Choice America. 'The anti-choice movement has discovered that this is a good tactic for them. ... It certainly has us concerned.'"