New Attention on Late-Term Abortions

Washington Post ^ | June 5, 2009 | Rob Stein

[Lorianne]

Under Kansas law, an abortion can be performed after a fetus is viable only if the doctor performing the procedure and an independent physician agree that the woman's life is at risk or that continuing the pregnancy would cause "substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function." When Susan Fitzgerald went in for a routine ultrasound near the end of her pregnancy, she was expecting good news. Instead, she was stunned to learn that the fetus had a rare condition that left his bones so brittle he would live less than a day. "It was unbelievable," Fitzgerald said. "You think by the third trimester you're home free. It was devastating." Desperate to end the pregnancy, she flew from her home in New England to Wichita, where George Tiller was one of the few doctors in the country willing to perform an abortion so late in a pregnancy. "It was very difficult, but I knew it was the most humane thing I could do for my baby," Fitzgerald said. "It was absolutely the right thing to do. I'm just so grateful that Dr. Tiller was there for me." _______________________ "The latest patient was a case where the fetus had no brain at all, would never take a breath on its own. That was probably just a few weeks before delivery," said LeRoy Carhart, a Bellevue, Neb., doctor who worked with Tiller, in an interview this week. "Her doctor knew the problem all along but just never told her."

[SuziQ]

I don't believe there is a law that hospitals are required to take extraordinary measures to keep a baby alive (tubes, pumps, ventilation, etc) ... just palliative care. Anyone know?

Since the parents are the health care proxy for their minor children, they make the decision about the level of care their babies will receive. If the baby has no chance of survival, I believe they can ask that no resuscitation be given at birth, so the parents can just spend time with the baby without all the tubes, machines, etc.

[SuziQ]

Thank you, and you may be happy to know that the remainder of our children were very healthy.

I believe you were blessed for your openness to God's will.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I believe you were blessed for your openness to God's will.

There have also been times in my life when I believe I've been punished for not adhering to God's will. I can't explain it, but the circumstances were such that I simply can't deny it. Strange stuff, Horatio!