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Madeline Roy
Professor Chandler
POLS 1100
15 April 2016
Aborting Late Term Abortion
Although banning women from getting an abortion may seem of concern to only a
small group of pro-life activists, it should in fact concern anyone who cares about human
life. People used to think that aborting a pregnancy was not hurting the fetus. But within
the past few decades, experts suggest that fetuses early on, are quite developed, and can
feel pain.
In an article written by Mark Wright, he discusses Planned Parenthood and the
abortion services they offer, which then include the selling of fetal tissue. Planned
Parenthood abortionists go out of their way to use technology to assist in the careful and
deliberate dismemberment of fetuses during an abortion. I feel that this procedure is
completed with all of the wrong intentions. As I read more on this article, I read that
Planned Parenthood, goes in with the mindset of selling the parts, and knows of the fetal
tissue in the most high demand, and would complete the procedure with intentions to
retrieve the heart, liver, brain and many other organs. It is frustrating to know that
because of the selfishness of the doctors, aborting the baby was done, with the intentions
to make money off of the fetal tissue.
Sanghavi discusses why mothers should be allowed late tem abortions, in the fact
that if there are birth defects detected, they should still be allowed the choice,
comprehensive fetal testing, such as anatomical sonograms and ultrasounds of the heart,
are typically performed just before 20 weeks of gestation. As I read more of this article,

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it became clear that Sanghavi was all for these mothers going through with abortions after
the testing. In her mindset she described it as, the family will suffer and the child will
endure pain. Saying that the family will suffer if they have a child born with birth
defects is a bold statement. The family would be able to endure the hardships, and as for
the fetus suffering pain after birth, the pain would be there as well if the late term
abortion was to happen. Considering the fetus is basically fully developed at twentyfour+ weeks gestations, everything that is done would be felt in the womb as well. Also
to be considered, complications the mother might have during an abortion. The procedure
is not a walk in the park; it is a several day process, where in one case, the mother died
due to, suffered a rare condition in which amniotic fluid was pushed into her blood
stream(Morse). All of the unthinkable could happen in a matter of seconds. Maybe it had
to do with the professionalism of the clinic she was at. It is hard to understand the logic
behind any person going through with a late term abortion.
Graham and Dannenfelser discuss "The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection
Act a small beginning on the road to recovering our humanity. It will save the lives of
15,000 girls and boys each year and prick our consciences to save others". Even with the
act saving 15,000 each year, abortion is still legal in the United States. Many states have
laws in place that prohibit abortion at a certain gestation. I found this next part to have so
much detail it makes you cringe, The doctor who uses ultrasound to guide his forceps to
crush a small baby's body, but leave its vital organs intact for laboratory use, is inflicting
horrific pain (Graham and Dannenfelser). The description is short but so powerful,
saying that the forceps crush the baby, is really hard to read. Medically necessary as
Sanghavi discussed or not necessary, any abortion should not, in my opinion, be allowed.
It is hard to comprehend how a fetus that small, can feel such pain. No fetus should feel

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something crushing his or her body to death. It is very interesting reading Graham and
Dannenfelsers article on the cruelty of abortion, and then reading Sanghavis on why late
term abortions should be allowed if birth defects are present. Late term abortion should
be illegal in all fifty states.
Of course, many will probably disagree on the grounds that late term abortions
should be illegal. I wholeheartedly believe that late term abortions should not be allowed.
As mentioned, by twenty-four weeks gestation the baby has a survival at life outside the
womb, though the odds are slim, it is better to give the baby a chance at life, then ending
its life in pain and sufferings that the fetus can feel well before the twenty-four week
point. All unborn fetuses deserve a chance at taking their first breath, and living, and not
have to go through unbearable pain in the womb-which is the place they are supposed to
feel most protected.

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Works Cited

Graham, Lindsey, and Marjorie Dannenfelser. "Late-Term Abortion: Recovering Our

Humanity." Des Moines Register. 29 Jul. 2015: 13. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web.
14 April 2016.
Morse, Dan. "Natural causes cited in Maryland death after late-term abortion."
Washington Post 29 May 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 14 April
2016.
Sanghavi, Darshak. "Who Has an Abortion After 20 Weeks? Slate. 11 July 2013. Web.
15 April 2016.
Wright, Mark Antonio. "Theres More Illegality in That Planned Parenthood
Video Than

Just Selling Baby Body Parts." National Review 17 July 2015.

Web. 15 April 2016.