The bill, known as The Reproductive Health Act was passed on the 46th anniversary of the Roe V. Wade decision, and replaces the previous law that only enabled abortion after 24 weeks if the woman’s life was undoubtedly at risk. Under the new law, abortions fall under health statutes instead of penal codes, which effectively decriminalizes them. Also, midwives and physician assistants are permitted to perform the procedure in certain cases.
Because the new law technically allows abortion up until full gestation, the backlash has been strong. While the actual purpose of the law is to protect women from death or major health complications, the rhetoric against the bill has painted a picture of women randomly deciding to terminate a late term pregnancy on a whim.
In order to lend a professional perspective, the gynecologist Jennifer Gunter shared the reality of late term abortions with her Twitter followers.
I’ve done abortions after 24 weeks.
For several years I lived in a state with no gestational age limit.
I have never done one that was not medically indicated.
I was never approached by any woman to do a non medically indicated abortion.— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
So spare me the lies.
Abortion after 24 weeks is very rare.
It is very expensive.
These are not “whims” because a woman is tired of being pregnant.
These are situations with tragic fetal anomalies, sometimes compounded by maternal health issues— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
I know of one case after 24 weeks where there were no fetal anomalies. It took months to get the court order as the child’s parents would not consent. It was in the news, so not a HIPAA violation. She had raped by her brother if I remember correctly.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Here are some examples:
25 weeks, severe growth restriction and fetus not expected to survive. Pregnant person has severe pre eclampsia, chooses abortion over c-section— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Triploidy pregnancy. Had been planning to deliver at term and have hospice. At 36 weeks, transverse lie. Can’t be induced for this reason. Does not want a c-section. Chooses a dilation and extraction.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
If you have never done a post 24 week procedure, so you have spoken with her and also likely with her high risk OB and/or geneticist, you have zero credibility to discuss the procedure.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Sometimes hypertension in pregnancy is so bad that a 26 week fetus is the size of one that is 19 weeks. The mother is literally dying from her high blood pressure. The D and E may be safer and faster. Your patient is counseled by neonatology and OB and then she makes a choice.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
I could go one. The permutations and combinations of pregnancy horror are truly bizarre and tragic.
A doctor, a especially an OB/GYN, with no empathy or medical understanding of these situations? That is frightening.
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) January 26, 2019
Gunter’s thread was powerful and it inspired some people to share their experiences.
