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Brief
Durham physicians David Grimes and Amy Bryant authored an excellent op-ed for this morning’s edition of Raleigh’s News & Observer that aptly describes the new abortion waiting period bill recently adopted by the state House. This is from the essay;
“These delays translate into increased risk and expense. No medical justification exists for these waiting periods, and paradoxically they can cause harm: While abortion is an extremely safe procedure, it is safest when done as early as possible in the pregnancy. Thus, HB465 could have the unintended consequence of causing abortion complications.”
The doctors offered these real life examples from their practices:
“One of our patients was a young mother of two whose abusive boyfriend hit her multiple times in the abdomen while pregnant. She made the courageous decision to leave that relationship, get a restraining order and have an abortion. Having to wait three days after contacting the clinic could have put her life in jeopardy if her partner had discovered her plans. Another patient had a desired pregnancy but learned that her fetus had no kidneys. It would not survive if born. The diagnosis was not made until she was at the upper gestational-age limit for abortion. Having to wait another three days would have meant that she would need to travel out of state, at great expense, to have her procedure.”
“HB465 is bad medicine. The World Health Organization advises, “Once the decision is made by the woman, abortion should be provided as soon as is possible to do so.” Thus, HB465 directly contradicts the medical advice of the World Health Organization.
Groucho Marx once commented that, ‘Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.’ His critique certainly applies to HB465. Medical care should be directed by licensed physicians and other health professionals, not by part-time politicians unaware of the realities of medical practice. North Carolinians deserve better.”
Read the entire op-ed by clicking here.
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