Essay:Rebuttal to LA Times Abortion Article

Rebuttal to "Facilities that regularly provide first-trimester terminations — including the pill version — may be regulated as outpatient surgical centers. Two of the state's three clinics would have to close," By Stephanie Simon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, September 10, 2007

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. If there are complications, then it has to be repeated. Many are done under general anesthesia, which of course takes far longer still.

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."

Misleading: Those with complications have to go back for more surgery, and those that do not have complications suffer from bleeding. No one who undergoes general anesthesia is cleared in just 15 minutes either.

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: These regulations are no different from what is required for other outpatient surgery centers. The Planned Parenthood clinic that is complaining does surgery, 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 proper facilities for the victim from providers enjoying substantial profits from it.

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 abortionists should get by with facilities less adequate than facilities for 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.'"

Misleading: This quote does not disclose how this organization benefits financially from abortions. The more that are performed, the more revenue this organization likely receives and the more that its employees can make. The article should have qualified the quote by noting this financial interest.

Point 6: "Planned Parenthood's clinic here in central Missouri performs about 600 first-trimester abortions a year, drawing patients from areas several hours away. Surgical abortions take place in two small exam rooms as the patient, often sedated with a Valium, lies on a padded table, her feet in stirrups. The recovery room, painted blue, is crowded, the vinyl recliners positioned so close to one another, patients could hold hands."

Deceptive: Instead of complaining about the crowded conditions for these victims of abortion, the article implies the crowding is good because the strangers could hold hands with each other after the operations! When was the last time anyone saw strangers hold hands after any operation?

Work in progress. Please add.