Time to educate the masses about partial birth abortion

[cynatnite]

I'm sick of this term being used to inflame and to divide with no education being offered. Even here at DU partial birth abortion is still misunderstood and it's still being used as a devisive wedge issue.

Get educated people! The RW anti-choicers love to use this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial-birth_abortion

Partial-birth abortion (PBA) is a controversial term used to refer to a specific type of late-term abortion, clinically known as intact dilation and extraction (IDX or Intact D&X). Both the abortion method and the term partial-birth abortion are controversial. Although not a medical term, partial-birth abortion is commonly used in public discussion of the procedure.

Often the debate over partial-birth abortion is over the name for this type of abortion, as well as the procedure itself. Those who support the term's use say it describes a specific type of abortion in a phrasing that better represents what happens during the procedure. Those who do oppose the term's use say that the term is an deceptive political term invented to frame the argument in a way favorable to those in opposition to the procedure.

The procedure was first described by Cincinnati physician W. Martin Haskell, MD, in a monograph that was distributed by the National Abortion Federation in September, 1992 <1>. In this monograph, Dr. Haskell describes the procedure only as "Dilation and Extraction".

The term partial-birth abortion did not appear until several years later. According to a Lexis Nexis search, it was first used on June 4, 1995 <2> in media coverage of pro-life events in support of legislation. It replaced the earlier, more graphic term brain suction abortion, which was used in an Ohio law that banned the procedure but was blocked by the judiciary. The term brain suction abortion was similar to partial-birth abortion, in that it is a political term created by opponents to the procedure — specifically, pro-life activist Janet Folger <3>.

edited for more information:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_pba1.htm

3rd Trimester: They are also very rarely performed in late pregnancy. The most common justifications at that time are:

The fetus is dead.

The fetus is alive, but continued pregnancy would place the woman's life in severe danger.

The fetus is alive, but continued pregnancy would grievously damage the woman's health and/or disable her.

The fetus is so malformed that it can never gain consciousness and will die shortly after birth. Many which fall into this category have developed a very severe form of hydrocephalus

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

1. I correct anyone when I hear them use that term

by stating "you mean "LATE-TERM" abortions, right? And clarify the facts further for them if need be. It really ticks me off to hear/see that term.

[friesianrider]

2. I say it too...NO SUCH THING as "partial-birth" abortions.

Sorry, right-wingers. :thumbsdown:

[cynatnite]

3. It drives me batshit crazy

:crazy:

[uppityperson]

4. Me too. I hate that term.

Late term abortion not partial birth abortion and how many of these are done? argh. People think with their emotions and this is why it is a hot topic. I keep stressing the fact that they are extrememly rare and only for very specific reasons such as you state. It is a non-issue really and batshit crazy described my inner emotions when I patiently again explain this away to someone who doesn't want to hear.