83 Abortion Rights News Articles
from 2016-2015
Click on the links below to get the full story from its source
12-21-16 Lena Dunham didn't 'intentionally trivialise' abortion
Lena Dunham didn't 'intentionally trivialise' abortion
Lena Dunham has apologised for a "distasteful joke" about abortion. In the latest episode of her podcast, Women of the Hour, the actress discussed a woman's legal right to choose to have an abortion - something she supports. She spoke about a girl asking her to be part a project which involved women sharing stories of abortions. At the end of the story she said: "I still haven't had an abortion, but I wish I had." The comment didn't go down well.
12-16-16 Conflicting abortion decisions
Conflicting abortion decisions
Ohio Gov. John Kasich this week vetoed a controversial bill that would have banned abortions as early as six weeks, while on the same day signing another restrictive law banning abortions after 20 weeks. The six-week “heartbeat bill” outraged pro-choice activists when it was passed by the Republican-led legislature last week, after being tucked into separate legislation on child abuse prevention. It would have prohibited abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected—and before many women even know they are pregnant. Kasich said that the heartbeat bill was “clearly contrary to the Supreme Court’s current rulings on abortion,” and that he did not want to subject Ohioans to a costly court battle defending it. But he approved a 20-week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest, or fetal anomaly. A recent Washington Post poll showed that 56 percent of Americans supported shortening the window for abortions from 24 weeks to 20.
12-16-16 Why reproductive rights activists are nervous about a Trump presidency
Why reproductive rights activists are nervous about a Trump presidency
The push to confer full "personhood" status on every fertilized human egg has been rejected by voters and lawmakers in state after state, including deep-red Mississippi. But activists are cautiously hopeful that their cause could get a boost from Republicans who are about to assume leadership in Washington. Georgia Representative Tom Price, who has been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to run the Department of Health and Human Services, has twice co-sponsored federal legislation that would define fertilized human eggs as legal persons — a move that would outlaw not just abortion, but also potentially birth control pills and other common methods of contraception. Vice President-elect Mike Pence, then a congressman from Indiana, also co-sponsored that bill, which was introduced in 2005 and 2007, as well as similar legislation in 2011. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who will see his power expand under the Trump administration, co-sponsored the same bill both years too, as well as similar legislation in 2009, 2011, and 2013. Personhood activists, who generally oppose abortion even in the case of rape and incest, have several policy changes in mind as the new administration takes office. As health secretary, for instance, Price could make it easier for employers or insurance plans to stop covering abortion and birth control. He could curtail federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells and contraception. And he, Pence, and Ryan could use their high-profile positions to raise awareness of the personhood movement.
12-2-16 New abortion rules
New abortion rules
After several months of heated public debate, Texas health officials announced this week that they would begin implementing a controversial new rule requiring that fetal remains be buried or cremated by hospitals and abortion clinics, starting Dec. 19. Proposed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in July and approved by the state health agency, the regulations ban hospitals and clinics from disposing of fetal remains alongside other medical tissue—which includes disposing of it in landfills or the sewer system. The rules won’t apply to miscarriages or at-home abortions. State Sen. Don Huffines said the new requirement would stop “the most innocent among us” from being “thrown out with the daily waste.” But the rule has sparked an outcry among the medical community and abortion activists, who said cremation or burial could cost clinics thousands of dollars per case, and make it more difficult for women to obtain abortions.
11-16-16 Trump: Supreme Court Nominees Will be "Pro-Life"
Trump: Supreme Court Nominees Will be "Pro-Life"
US President-elect Donald Trump has said that uture Supreme Court nominees would be "pro-life" and defend the constitutional right to bear arms. (Webmaster's comment: Good-Bye Roe vs Wade. Welcome back back-alley abortions.)
11-14-16 US election 2016: 'Mike Pence' gifts to abortion provider surge
US election 2016: 'Mike Pence' gifts to abortion provider surge
Donations to US abortion provider Planned Parenthood in the name of Vice President-elect Mike Pence have surged. Donald Trump's running mate, who has been a long-time opponent of Planned Parenthood, will be sent a gift certificate for every donation made. The campaign, aimed at embarrassing Mr Pence, began in 2011 when as an Indiana congressman he introduced several anti-abortion measures. They included the first bill to strip the provider of all federal funding.
11-10-16 Abortion could be made illegal in parts of Trump’s America
Abortion could be made illegal in parts of Trump’s America
The next US president plans to overturn the country's long-standing nationwide provision for abortions, and if states are allowed to decide, many will opt for a ban. Abortion provision in the US will soon come under attack. President-elect Donald Trump has given mixed messages in the past, but in this campaign he vowed to rescind women’s abortion rights at the federal level. US law enshrining abortion provision across the country was set by a landmark court ruling in 1973 known as Roe versus Wade. Trump has vowed to overturn this, by appointing conservative judges to the nation’s highest court. If Roe versus Wade is overturned, individual states would decide the law. Several conservative ones such as Louisiana and Kentucky have long tried to chip away at abortion availability, so they might enact extreme restrictions or bans.
11-4-16 Medicated abortions
Medicated abortions
American women are now undergoing medicated abortions nearly as often as surgical abortions, partly in response to state restrictions imposed on abortion clinics. Forty-three percent of abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics in the U.S. used medication instead of surgery in 2014.
11-2-16 The super-secret outlaw doula delivering babies in backwoods California
The super-secret outlaw doula delivering babies in backwoods California
When the contractions come and you've got a two-hour mountain drive to the hospital, who are you going to call? "There are renegades delivering babies in the woods," Aria says, in a tone both ironic and mischievous. She is a doula living in Hayfork, California, a community of about 2,500 located in the rugged mountains of Trinity County. Towns here often don't consist of much more than a gas station, general store, post office, and a requisite bar, and are linked by narrow, windy roads. Drives through the dense wilderness between them can take up to a few hours. In these remote outposts there exists an underground current of women who have their babies at home, hours from the nearest hospital. Some of these expectant mothers employ a midwife or doula if they can, and some deliver their children without any assistance at all. But others use uncertified midwives, a practice that is illegal for mothers in some states (though not California), and always illegal for the uncertified midwife. "I've caught a few babies illegally," Aria says. Doulas are licensed to provide emotional support and advocacy for mothers during the birthing process, but they are not healthcare providers. Aria is training to be a Certified Professional Midwife, though. So far she's completed the required classes and passed the exams. Now she's accumulating field experience, having officially logged attendance at 15 home births as a midwife assistant out of the necessary 50.
10-28-16 Abortion: The impact of the next president
Abortion: The impact of the next president
Finally: An “unapologetic defense of abortion rights” from a Democratic presidential candidate, said Adrienne LaFrance in TheAtlantic.com. Until Hillary Clinton became the party’s first woman nominee, Democrats supported the divisive issue of abortion rights with “carefully hedged language.” But in last week’s final presidential debate, Clinton said flatly, “I will defend Roe v. Wade, and I will defend women’s rights to make their own health-care decisions.” Period. Republican Donald Trump, meanwhile, attacked Clinton’s support of late-term abortions with graphic, inaccurate language suggesting women callously have healthy babies “ripped from their wombs” days before birth. In fact, partial-birth abortion has been illegal since 2003. To date, 43 states have restrictions on late-term terminations, and studies show that just 1.3 percent of all abortions take place after 21 weeks. Most of them are wanted pregnancies in which the fetus has a major birth defect, or the mother’s health is at risk. (Webmaster's comment: The facts have never stopped a Republican or many Christians from distorting the truth!)
10-20-16 Italy abortion row as woman dies after hospital miscarriage
Italy abortion row as woman dies after hospital miscarriage
Italian prosecutors have begun an inquiry into the death after a miscarriage of a woman of 32 who was pregnant with twins. The family of Valentina Milluzzo said the doctor treating her refused to abort the foetuses because he was a "conscientious objector" to abortion. The hospital involved has categorically rejected the family's claims. The woman's burial has been postponed while further investigations are carried out.
10-18-16 'I had a mail-order abortion': The women forced to go it alone
'I had a mail-order abortion': The women forced to go it alone
Many Irish women travel to England for abortions but sometimes this is not practical. One woman tells us how a website made it possible. They arrived in a small beige envelope. Getting hold of the abortion pills was nerve-wracking enough, says Catriona. “But the really hard part came after.” Catriona, a marketing consultant living in Ireland, is one of a growing number of women who buy medications online to terminate their pregnancy in countries where abortions are illegal. One source is a site called Women on Web, which provides free medical advice along with the pills for those who are less than 9 weeks pregnant. A study published this week found it received 1438 requests for help from Ireland and Northern Ireland last year, and numbers have nearly tripled since 2010. Catriona found herself pregnant earlier this year when she already had a 5-month-old baby. The last pregnancy had been hard; she had developed pelvic problems that left her in agony for the last two months and she was still in pain. “My body was still recovering.” Many Irish women travel to England for abortions but this wasn’t practical for Catriona as there was no one to mind the baby; her partner had just started a new job and so couldn’t take time off work and their parents live abroad.
10-17-16 Home abortions are safe – we should let women do it themselves
Home abortions are safe – we should let women do it themselves
The abortion pill is so safe and easy to use we should let women take it at home, says Clare Wilson. Throughout history, abortions at home have been a byword for horror, danger, even a grisly death. Many countries that legalised abortion did so partly to eradicate them. But now we have the abortion pill. Women who are up to nine weeks pregnant can safely have an abortion at home by taking two medicines over two days, according to the World Health Organization. The second dose of pills triggers bleeding and painful stomach cramps while the embryo is passed; this typically takes a few hours but can last several days. A few per cent of women have an incomplete abortion requiring a hospital visit to complete the process. But it’s more or less like an early miscarriage – which women are usually told to cope with at home – and statistically is still safer for the woman than continuing with the pregnancy and giving birth. It’s also safer than many other medicines that we are allowed to buy from pharmacies without a prescription, such as Viagra in the UK. So why can’t women get abortion pills from pharmacies and manage the process themselves at home if they choose? It might sound radical but it’s already widespread in countries where abortion is illegal, with women buying the pills from online pharmacies. While some countries, such as Poland, are trying to tighten their already strict abortion laws, the advent of mail-order abortion pills means the law is becoming almost irrelevant.
10-12-16 Abortion laws may be relaxed for rape cases in El Salvador
Abortion laws may be relaxed for rape cases in El Salvador
Rape victims in El Salvador may be allowed to have abortions under proposals put forward by the governing party. The left-wing Farabundo Marti Liberation Liberation Front (FMLN) wants to allow abortion in cases of rape, risk to the mother's life or if the foetus is unviable. The practice is currently completely banned in El Salvador. The FMLN will need the support of an extra 12 lawmakers to pass the bill. The bill was backed by the president of Congress, Lorena Pena, who proposed that women whose life was at risk or those who had been raped or trafficked be allowed to end their pregnancy. "It's a duty of legislators to give women a chance to save their lives, so that they don't die in those circumstances. It [the bill] is also meant to take into account the impact giving birth has on girls who have been raped," she said.
10-7-16 Why abortion will remain legal
Why abortion will remain legal
Russia’s most powerful cleric is calling on the government to ban abortion, said Ola Cichowlas. Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, last week signed a petition for a total prohibition of the procedure, as well as of contraceptives with “abortive” side effects. But even though the Kremlin has been supportive of the church and the new wave of social conservatism, it’s unlikely to listen. The church “has little influence” over reproductive norms, and abortion is entrenched in Russian culture. The Soviet Union was the first country in the world to legalize the procedure, and for decades abortion was the preferred form of birth control, since the pill wasn’t available and Russian condoms were unreliable. Although the Soviet Union collapsed 25 years ago, Russia’s abortion rate is still “enormously and abnormally high,” with one in three pregnancies terminated. Only China, with its one-child policy, has more abortions per capita. While Russia has every incentive to increase its birth rate, Kremlin officials admit that banning abortion is financially unviable, since it would increase the number of children “without parental protection who are socially dependent on the state.” Human rights activists point out that Russian orphanages are already neglected and underfunded. For now, at least, “state officials seem content to keep things as they are.”
10-6-16 Poland abortion: Parliament rejects near-total ban
Poland abortion: Parliament rejects near-total ban
Poland's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to reject a controversial citizens' bill for a near-total ban on abortion. The government said that protests against the bill had given ministers "food for thought". Poland already has among the tightest abortion laws in Europe, and the proposal sought to ban all abortions unless the mother's life was at risk. MPs voted to reject the bill by 352 votes to 58. The bill came from an anti-abortion citizens' initiative that gathered some 450,000 signatures. It was initially backed by the Catholic Church, but bishops then said they could not support one of the proposals, to jail women who had an abortion.
10-5-16 There is no pro-life candidate in the 2016 race
There is no pro-life candidate in the 2016 race
In most presidential elections, it's quite clear which candidate is the pro-life candidate. This election is different. In Donald Trump, the Republicans have put forward a candidate whose nominal pro-life convictions seem belied by everything else about his history and temperament. This has led some people, including some pro-life Christians, to stroke their chins and argue that the Democratic candidate is the real pro-life candidate. One recent example of this argument comes to us by way of Eric Sapp, writing at The Christian Post that "Hillary Clinton is the best choice for voters against abortion." In a roundabout way, this piece seems to suggest that Democratic policies might lower the number of abortions by making life better for women in ways beyond actually banning abortions. It does this by suggesting that Republicans aren't really pro-life because they sometimes promote pro-life bills that contain exceptions allowing for abortions in certain circumstances.
10-3-16 Black Monday: Polish women strike against abortion ban
Black Monday: Polish women strike against abortion ban
Black is the choice of colour for those opposing the proposed total ban. Women in Poland have gone on strike in protest against proposals for a total ban on abortions. They marched through the streets wearing black as a sign of mourning for their reproductive rights. Women who oppose the ban are staying away from work and school and refusing to do domestic chores, in a protest inspired by a women's strike in Iceland in 1975. Anti-abortion protests are being held around the country too.
9-24-16 Will Poland impose a total ban on abortion?
Will Poland impose a total ban on abortion?
The touchstone issue of abortion has reared its head once again at the centre of Polish politics. There were opposing demonstrations outside Poland's parliament on Friday as it debated a motion to ban abortion outright. If passed, Poland would join just two other European states that ban the procedure - Malta and the Vatican City. In this staunchly Catholic nation, the issue inflames huge passions on both sides. Abortion is already mostly banned. The only exceptions are a severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, a serious threat to the mother's health, or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. As a result, even by conservative estimates there are far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared to about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations. Access to contraception has also been tightened. The only over-the-counter contraception now available is the condom.
9-24-16 Female Farc fighter admits babies were aborted
Female Farc fighter admits babies were aborted
Women have played an important part in Colombia's Farc leftist guerrilla army ever since it was founded in 1964. They make up about 30% of the ranks and are equal to their male colleagues. But one female fighter has told the BBC women sometimes had to abort their babies to remain in the army. Members of the Farc have now agreed to lay down their arms, reintegrate into society and become a political party.
9-19-16 #BBCElectionTrain: The only abortion clinic in North Dakota
#BBCElectionTrain: The only abortion clinic in North Dakota
Fargo in North Dakota is home to the state's only abortion clinic, where women who travel for hours to get there are confronted by protesters outside. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool spoke to people outside to find out why they are there, and the women inside about how they feel about it. Fargo was one of the stops Maqbool, producer Ashley Semler and video journalist Franz Strasser took along a train route called the Empire Builder, talking to Americans in the northern part of the country about the election and the issues they're not hearing about.
9-14-16 How Planned Parenthood became Republicans' new white whale
How Planned Parenthood became Republicans' new white whale
member ObamaCare? The Affordable Care Act, the law that Republicans loathed with such a desperate passion that they would move any mountain, cross any river, shut down any government to destroy? They still hate it, of course, which you'll find out if you ask them. But curiously, they're no longer holding votes to repeal it, almost as if something robbed the issue of its urgency. It's not that they've been distracted by the presidential campaign, because they still have a legislative white whale they're sailing after with murder in their eyes. Only now, funding for Planned Parenthood is the focus of Republican indignation, the one line they pledge never to cross, the sword upon which they threaten to hurl themselves at every moment where congressional action on anything is required. How did this change come about, and what does it portend for the future?
8-30-16 Drug-induced abortion less safe in Ohio after 2011 law
Drug-induced abortion less safe in Ohio after 2011 law
A law intended to improve the safety of abortion by medication tripled the rate of complications because it stopped physicians from following latest research. An Ohio law intended to make abortions safer has instead tripled the rate of complications. The 2011 law requires providers to stick to US Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines for abortion by medication. These suggest specific timings and doses of drugs, but were drawn up in 2000. Research has since found different dosages and timing are safer – most Ohio doctors had already made those adjustments before the law was passed. Analysing data from four Ohio clinics, Ushma Upadhyay at the University of California, San Francisco, and her team found that, after the law was passed, women undergoing abortion by medication were three times more likely to need additional treatment such as extra drugs or a blood transfusion. They were also nearly twice as likely to report a side effect – such as nausea or vomiting – during their abortion. “There’s a new wave of state-level restrictions on abortion that purport to improve health and safety, but what we’re finding is that they may end up harming women if these regulations are not based in scientific evidence,” says Upadhyay.
8-28-16 Ireland's abortion laws: Rose of Tralee becomes latest battleground in divisive debate
Ireland's abortion laws: Rose of Tralee becomes latest battleground in divisive debate
The Rose of Tralee, the Republic of Ireland's long-running beauty pageant, is not usually a platform for thorny issues. But, this week, it became the unlikely battleground in Ireland's ongoing debate over abortion legislation. Brianna Perkins, the Sydney Rose, sparked the controversy with comments she made live on television to hundreds of thousands of viewers last Monday night. "I think it is time to give women a say on their own reproductive rights," she told presenter Dáithí Ó Sé. Her words were unexpected for the Rose of Tralee, a quintessentially Irish tradition that is probably best known for being wholesome and wholly unthreatening, and the reaction on social media was immediate and emotional.
7-8-16 Abortion: The Supreme Court moves left
Abortion: The Supreme Court moves left
The sham is over, said Rekha Basu in The Des Moines Register. In perhaps the most significant victory for reproductive rights since Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court last week voted 5-3 to strike down two Texas laws that imposed crippling restrictions on abortion clinics “under the guise of protecting women’s health.” The laws imposed “ridiculous requirements” that would have shuttered 75 percent of Texas abortion clinics, demanding that doctors have admitting privileges at local hospitals and that facilities “have hospital-level surgical operating rooms,” with specific rules on cabinet spacing, corridor width, and plumbing. During arguments before the court, pro-choice groups pointed out that “statistically, abortion is a safe procedure.” Indeed, women are 14 times more likely to die in childbirth than in abortions, yet midwives aren’t required to set up surgical centers. Seeing through Texas’ transparent tactic, the court ruled that its restrictions imposed an “undue burden” on women’s constitutional right to an abortion.
7-5-16 2016 is already a catastrophic year for the pro-life movement
2016 is already a catastrophic year for the pro-life movement
The pro-life movement suffered another defeat last week. In its Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt decision, the Supreme Court overturned a Texas law that required abortionists to have admitting privileges to a nearby hospital and to meet the health and safety standards of other surgical centers. It was an ominous sign that the fortunes of the anti-abortion cause are changing. After a few years of tangible victories, 2016 is turning out to be the worst year for the pro-life cause in at least a generation.
6-29-16 The Texan women saved by the Supreme Court
The Texan women saved by the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a Texas law known as HB2 poses a "substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions," placing an "'undue burden' on their constitutional right to do so." The decision is a major victory for abortion rights advocates — but more directly, it's a major victory for individual women. Not yet, of course. Right now the legacy of HB2 still means that 900,000 Texans of child-bearing age live a 300-mile round trip from their nearest abortion provider — six to eight hours of driving there and back, plus the cost of a tank of gas, and likely at least one lost day of work. And abortion, rather famously, is one of those things that can't be long put off. We may not know their names or faces, but there are many women living in Texas today for whom SCOTUS's decision has already come too late. Abortion opponents would have you believe that life itself lies at the heart of this debate, and they're not wrong — but it's not the lives of as-yet-unborn people. At the heart of the abortion debate are the lives of already-in-existence people, people who, for whatever reason, have decided not to carry a pregnancy to term.
6-28-16 Strict Texas abortion law struck down
Strict Texas abortion law struck down
The US Supreme Court has struck down a 2013 Texas abortion law that imposed restrictive regulations on the procedure. The law requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and clinics to maintain hospital-like conditions. Republicans contended the law protects women while advocates argued the measure restricts access to abortions. The key decision is the first major abortion ruling since 2007.
6-27-16 Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions in Texas
Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions in Texas
In a major victory for pro-choice advocates, the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas abortion law today. In a major victory for pro-choice advocates, the Supreme Court struck down a Texas abortion law today. The case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, centred around a Texas law called House Bill 2, or HB2. The law requires abortion clinics to meet the same building standards as outpatient surgery centres – such as having wide hallways and advanced air conditioning and heating systems. It also requires the doctors performing abortions to seek active “admitting privileges” at a hospital within 48 kilometres of their clinic. The ruling could have reverberations in other states with similar laws on the books, such as Louisiana and Mississippi. Upholding Texas’s HB2 could have bolstered similar efforts in other states, making it much harder for women across the country to seek an abortion. Proponents of HB2 had said that the restrictions would help protect women’s health. But pro-choice advocates argued that HB2 effectively limited access to abortions. Since the law passed in 2013, many clinics in the state have been forced to close. In a 5-3 vote, the Supreme Court ruled to reverse the decision of the Fifth Circuit. The decision, delivered by Justice Stephen Breyer, said that HB2 would place an “undue burden” on women’s constitutional right to seek an abortion, particularly for those who are poor, disadvantaged, or living in rural areas. The building standards in particular would pose a “substantial obstacle”: “The dramatic drop in the number of clinics means fewer doctors, longer waiting times, and increased crowding,” the decision read.
6-27-16 Why the Supreme Court couldn't tolerate Texas' abortion laws
Why the Supreme Court couldn't tolerate Texas' abortion laws
Texas finally pushed Anthony Kennedy too far. For more than two decades, states have pushed the envelope on abortion regulation, passing restrictions that in some cases make it nearly impossible for abortion clinics to operate. On Monday, the Supreme Court finally cracked down on these attempts to surreptitiously ban abortion. In the Court's most important abortion decision since 1992, the Court struck down the worst parts of a Texas abortion statute that would have required most of the state's abortion clinics to close. It was a major victory for the pro-choice movement. In the 1992 landmark Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court upheld Roe v. Wade. But this upholding of Roe came at a major cost. The Court's opinion permitted restrictions of abortion that did not constitute an "undue burden." In theory, this standard could provide robust protection for reproductive rights. In practice, the Court has allowed states to pass virtually any regulation of abortion that isn't an outright ban on pre-viability abortions. That is, until Monday. Texas' abortion statute was passed in such egregious bad faith that Kennedy — one of the authors of Casey and the Court's swing vote on abortion rights — couldn't look the other way.
6-27-16 Oklahoma in the US opens first abortion clinic in 30 years
Oklahoma in the US opens first abortion clinic in 30 years
The first new abortion clinic in more than three decades is opening in the US state of Oklahoma, weeks after politicians in the state passed a bill to criminalise abortion. The measure, which was vetoed by the state's governor, illustrates the deep divisions over the issue. Existing abortion services are limited in Oklahoma, forcing some women to travel as long as eight hours for treatment elsewhere.
6-19-16 Women march to defend abortion rights in Poland
Women march to defend abortion rights in Poland
Thousands of people have taken part in a demonstration in the Polish capital of Warsaw to defend women's rights. The protests were sparked after a recent proposal to tighten the country's abortion laws.
6-12-16 Why one woman carried out her own abortion
Why one woman carried out her own abortion
More than 100,000 women in Texas, US, have induced their own abortions, according to a recent study. The US Supreme Court is to hear a case regarding abortion law in Texas. It is to decide on whether a 2013 ruling stating that abortion clinics meet certain requirements is constitutional. Dozens of clinics have closed as a result of the ruling, and researchers say self-induced abortions may increase if clinics continue to close. Women typically use a pill called misoprostol to induce their own abortions. Here, one young woman explains why she crossed the border into Mexico, where the drug is cheaper and easier to obtain without a prescription. (Webmaster's comment: The Republicans have finally done it. They've managed to bring back the back-alley abortion. Now all they have to do is Build A Wall between the United States and Mexico and make it illegal for a pregnant woman to cross it, for her own safety of course, thus making sure that a woman bears the fruit of a man's loins and passes on his genes.)
5-21-16 Oklahoma governor vetoes bill to criminalise abortions
Oklahoma governor vetoes bill to criminalise abortions
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has vetoed a bill that would make abortion a criminal offence in the US state. Although she opposes abortion, she said the measure was vague and would not withstand a legal challenge. The state senate on Thursday backed the bill that would have punished doctors who terminate a pregnancy with up to three years in prison. They would also be barred from practising medicine. To override the veto, lawmakers require a two-thirds majority in each chamber. Abortion is legal in the US, and abortion rights activists have already described the bill as unconstitutional.
5-19-16 Oklahoma lawmakers pass bill to outlaw abortion
Oklahoma lawmakers pass bill to outlaw abortion
Lawmakers in the US state of Oklahoma have passed a bill that would make the act of performing an abortion a crime. Under the bill, a doctor who performs an abortion could be sentenced to up to three years in prison and be barred from practising medicine in the state. Abortion is legal in the United States and abortion-rights activists say the bill is unconstitutional. The legislation now heads to Governor Mary Fallin who has previously backed curbs on abortion. Two abortion clinics remain in Oklahoma after the state recently enacted a number of new regulations on the facilities.
5-11-16 Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic killer unfit for trial
Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic killer unfit for trial
Mr Dear has confessed to killing three people and wounding nine others. A man who confessed to killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic last year has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial. Robert Dear will be treated at a state psychiatric hospital and may eventually be tried if his mental health improves. On 27 November, Mr Dear, 57, opened fire at the clinic in Colorado Springs. Nine people were also wounded. In a previous court appearance, Mr Dear called himself a "warrior for the babies" and made repeated outbursts. On Wednesday, Mr Dear called the judge a "filthy animal" as he was led out of the courtroom.
5-11-16 Why do pro-life conservatives support anti-immigrant groups pushing population control?
Why do pro-life conservatives support anti-immigrant groups pushing population control?
America's anti-immigration restrictionist movement has historically had one foot in the labor protectionist camp and another in the population control camp. Many pro-life conservatives count themselves among immigration restrictionists — which makes the anti-immigration movement's population control argument downright bizarre, given that population control and abortion politics have been a key flashpoint in conservatives' broader culture war with the left. But even as the environmental left has been shunning the restrictionist movement, conservatives have been embracing it. Indeed, the right is the sole link to mainstream respectability for three of America's most influential restrictionist groups — FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform), CIS (Center for Immigration Studies), and NumbersUSA — all founded by John Tanton, an ophthalmologist who laments that Hitler gave eugenics a bad name.
4-22-16 Pro-choicers’ terminology problem
Pro-choicers’ terminology problem
When it comes to discussing a pregnant woman’s “uterine contents,” pro-choice liberals have a language problem, said Jonah Goldberg. Hillary Clinton recently illustrated this difficulty when she asserted on Meet the Press that “an unborn person doesn’t have constitutional rights.” Unborn person? Clinton’s use of that word violates the pro-choice side’s prime directive, which is never to refer to the unborn as “a child” or “a person.” Instead, he or she—that is, “it”—must be called a fetus or, when it is being vacuumed out, “uterine contents.” When the White House asked for $1.8 billion to combat Zika, spokesman Josh Earnest said the funding would make sure that “unborn children in this country can be properly protected.” Ooops. TV and movies often exhibit the same unconscious use of pro-life terms, with characters talking about pregnant women’s unborn “babies,” not fetuses. Emotionally, this is totally natural. If a woman wants her baby, “it becomes a baby long before it’s born.” If not, pro-choice absolutists insist, it’s just a blob of cells right up to nine months. No wonder they have such a problem in talking about the unborn. “And it’s not just a problem of language.”
4-8-16 Abortion: Why don’t pro-lifers want to punish the woman?
Abortion: Why don’t pro-lifers want to punish the woman?
Abortion is the most polarizing issue in America, said Nia-Malika Henderson in CNN.com, but Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump “managed to unite advocates on both sides” of the debate last week. In an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, Trump said that “there has to be some form of punishment” for women who terminate their pregnancies. A recent convert to the pro-life cause, Trump was presumably trying to tell GOP primary voters what he thought they wanted to hear, unaware that most pro-lifers advocate criminal prosecution of doctors who perform abortions, but not of the women who undergo them. Trump quickly recanted his position, said Rachel Lu in TheFederalist.com, but not before doing immense damage to the pro-life cause. Pro-lifers do believe that the unborn are “precious human beings” and that abortion is murder. But we see women as “the second victims of abortion,” often pressured into a sinful choice by boyfriends or circumstances. They are deserving of our compassion and our help, but not punishment.
4-6-16 Some stillbirths are avoidable if we know enough to act in time
Some stillbirths are avoidable if we know enough to act in time
Some stillbirths can be prevented if at-risk babies are induced in time. New NHS guidelines will help but scientists could do much more, says Jop de Vrieze.
4-6-16 'Hello governor, I have my period': Abortion bill protests go viral
'Hello governor, I have my period': Abortion bill protests go viral
For the past week, Indiana Governor Mike Pence's office has been bombarded by calls, emails and Facebook posts like these in protest of a recently introduced anti-abortion bill. The bill focuses on limiting abortions based on foetus characteristics including foetal abnormalities, gender, race or ancestry. It also requires that fetal remains be buried or cremated. The group Periods for Pence - created by an Indianapolis resident who has asked to remain anonymous - is encouraging people to communicate their frustrations or opposition through updating the governor's office on the status of their periods as frequently as possible.
4-2-16 US Election 2016: Donald Trump says 'laws are set' on abortion
US Election 2016: Donald Trump says 'laws are set' on abortion
Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has said US abortion laws should remain unchanged, although he believes the procedure amounts to murder. In an interview with CBS News, Mr Trump said: "The laws are set. And I think we have to leave it that way". His comments come as Mr Trump has struggled this week to articulate his position on abortion. He withdrew a call for women who have abortions to be punished, only hours after suggesting it. After an outpouring of criticism from both anti-abortion and abortion rights activists, Mr Trump later said only the people who perform abortions should face punishment.
3-31-16 Trump abortion row: Republican front-runner changes stance
Trump abortion row: Republican front-runner changes stance
US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has withdrawn a call for women who have abortions to be punished, only hours after suggesting it. He had proposed "some form of punishment" for women who have abortions if they were made illegal. But after strong criticism, Mr Trump repeated the Republican party line that only the person performing the abortion should be punished, not the women. The Republican front-runner supports a ban on abortions, with some exceptions. Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 after a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
3-25-16 Bill to defund Planned Parenthood
Bill to defund Planned Parenthood
After passing a bill to defund Planned Parenthood, Florida lawmakers provided a list of other “health centers” that could provide breast exams, contraception, and other women’s care—and the list included dozens of public school nurse’s offices, prisons, podiatrists, and dentists. “I don’t think an elementary school can prescribe me birth control,” said college student Kheyanna Suarez.
3-12-16 Sierra Leone abortion bill blocked by President Bai Koroma again
Sierra Leone abortion bill blocked by President Bai Koroma again
Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma has again refused to sign a bill legalising abortion, saying it should be put to a referendum. It was unanimously passed by MPs in December, but Mr Koroma refused to sign it after protests by religious leaders. After consultations, MPs returned the bill to him last month, unaltered. The law would allow women to terminate a pregnancy in any circumstances up to 12 weeks and in cases of incest, rape and foetal impairment up to 24 weeks. Abortion is currently illegal in Sierra Leone under any circumstances.
3-11-16 Unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. are at new low
Unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. are at new low
Unplanned pregnancies in the U.S. are at a 30-year low, having fallen 18 percent between 2008 and 2011, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The drop has occurred in part because of long-acting reversible contraceptives like intrauterine devices and implants—the use of which has tripled since 2007.
3-4-16 Supreme Court: The battle over Texas abortion law
Supreme Court: The battle over Texas abortion law
Antonin Scalia’s chair is still draped in black crepe, said Robert Barnes in The Washington Post, but at the Supreme Court this week, all eyes were on Justice Anthony Kennedy, whose vote may decide “the most important abortion case in decades.” At issue is a 2013 Texas law requiring abortion clinics to meet the same building codes and hygiene standards as surgical facilities, and for abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The cost of compliance has already driven most Texas abortion clinics out of business, leaving only 19 in the entire state to serve 5.4 million women. Other conservative states have passed 250 abortion restrictions over the past five years, so the court’s ruling could have major national implications. In the past, Kennedy has shown a paternalistic concern with “protecting” women from choosing abortions they may later regret, said Noah Feldman in BloombergView.com, and in oral arguments this week he aggressively demanded proof that the law was really forcing clinics to close.
3-2-16 US Supreme Court hears landmark abortion case
US Supreme Court hears landmark abortion case
The US Supreme Court has heard arguments in a controversial abortion case that may have implications for millions of women across the country. It considered a challenge to a Texas law that imposes strict regulations on abortion doctors and clinics. But the court's eight justices so far appear divided on the hot button issue.
3-1-16 US Supreme Court to hear case on restrictive Texas abortion law
US Supreme Court to hear case on restrictive Texas abortion law
The Court will consider whether to uphold a Texas law that requires abortion clinics to close unless they meet stringent building regulations, among other criteria. It’s been called the most momentous abortion case confronting the US Supreme Court in a generation. On Wednesday, the justices will hear a Texas case that could affect abortion provision across the country. The law being challenged, known as HB2, was passed in Texas in 2013. Since then, the number of clinics in the state has dropped from around 40 to around 10. If the law stands, these would also be at risk of closure. HB2 stipulates that doctors working at abortion clinics must have permission to admit people at a hospital within 50 kilometres of the clinic, and that all clinics meet the same building standards as outpatient surgery centres. In many cases, this would require expensive modifications to increase room size and corridor width. The law also rules out any abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and limits the way the procedure can be carried out. (Webmaster's comment: The conservatives can not stop abortions by law but they can make them impossible to perform by law. These conservatives hate women and see them only as baby making machines for a man's pleasure.)
1-26-16 Filmmakers who targeted Planned Parenthood face charges
Filmmakers who targeted Planned Parenthood face charges
A Texas grand jury has cleared Planned Parenthood of misconduct after the abortion provider was accused of selling foetal body parts for profit. Instead, the panel charged the filmmakers behind the accusations with tampering with government records. Mr Daleiden and fellow activist Sandra Merritt each face a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. No further details were provided by prosecutors. Mr Daleiden also faces a misdemeanour count related to purchasing human organs.
12-18-15 The U.S. abortion rate fell 35 percent
The U.S. abortion rate fell 35 percent
The U.S. abortion rate fell 35 percent between 1990 and 2010 and is now at the lowest rate since records began in 1976. Researchers credit the increased use of IUDs and other highly effective contraception as a major factor in the decline.
12-18-15 Ohio Attorney General Accuses Planned Parenthood of Illegally Dumping Fetal Remains
Ohio Attorney General Accuses Planned Parenthood of Illegally Dumping Fetal Remains
Ohio officials on Friday accused Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state of disposing of fetal tissue in violation of state law, saying that the health care organization sent the remains to companies that dumped the tissue in landfills. The accusation was the result of the Ohio attorney general's investigation into Planned Parenthood over the organization's donation of fetal tissue from abortions. Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a statement on Friday that his office concluded its investigation of Planned Parenthood and found that the organization had not illegally sold fetal tissue. But DeWine said his office did find that Planned Parenthood had violated an Ohio regulation requiring that a "fetus shall be disposed of in a humane manner." According to the attorney general's investigation, the health care organization sends fetal remains to disposal companies, which then dump the tissue in landfills.
12-3-15 The troubling silence of conservative women who've had abortions
The troubling silence of conservative women who've had abortions
By age 45, three out of 10 American women will have had an abortion. Thirty percent of us. Millions of women, from across the country and every conceivable background. Rich, poor, black, white, liberal, and yes: conservative. Some of us talk about the experience, but most of us don't — and if you ever wonder why, a quick look at the recent attack on Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs and the subsequent rhetorical fallout should clear up any confusion. Women who do speak up, however, tend to fit a specific profile: Liberal, politically active, angry. We often share stories about conservative women who terminated pregnancies but judge their own abortions to be different — sanitized, as it were, by their personal circumstances. (Webmaster's comment: Conservatives think abortion is absolutely wrong, except then they need it for their "special" circumstances. Hypocrites one and all. All others must suffer for the errors of their ways, like being poor or having sex or not being white.)
12-1-15 Planned Parenthood shooting: Who are the victims?
Planned Parenthood shooting: Who are the victims?
Planned Parenthood shooting: Who are the victims? This case is tragic but it is also controversial, having provoked debate across the US, not least among candidates for the presidency, about Planned Parenthood's controversial role in providing foetal tissue for research. This was not the first attack on one of its clinics and the group says poisonous political rhetoric is inciting domestic terrorism, a charge rejected by its critics. (Webmaster's comment: It is White Christian Terrorism Pure and Simple. Where's so-called the Love and Forgiveness in these terrorist acts? It's time Christians stopped remaining silent and CONDEMN these acts. These are acts like one would expect of ISIS.)
11-30-15 Republicans bristle at criticism of Planned Parenthood rhetoric
Republicans bristle at criticism of Planned Parenthood rhetoric
Republican presidential hopefuls have denounced the Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting, but they dismiss allegations from the left that their recent condemnations of the nation's largest abortion provider may have provoked the attack.
11-30-15 Why progressives should support Louisiana's anti-abortion Democratic governor
Why progressives should support Louisiana's anti-abortion Democratic governor
And yet... it's hardly all good news for the left. Edwards has a lot of conservative views, including on gun control and environmental policy. Perhaps most disturbingly, Edwards strongly opposes a woman's right to obtain an abortion. Reproductive rights are a core Democratic value, period. National and blue-state Democrats should all favor reproductive rights. Edwards' terrible positions on reproductive rights shouldn't be ignored. Even if an opponent of reproductive rights has to be supported for tactical reasons, we shouldn't lose sight of the importance of reproductive freedom.
11-28-15 Planned Parenthood: Three die in shooting at Colorado clinic
Planned Parenthood: Three die in shooting at Colorado clinic
A shooting at a family planning clinic in Colorado Springs has left two civilians and a police officer dead, with the suspected gunman under arrest. Nine other people were injured during the standoff at the Planned Parenthood clinic, which lasted five hours before the suspect surrendered. A number of people were trapped inside the building as shots were exchanged. The motive remains unclear. The Planned Parenthood group has drawn anti-abortion protests in the past. (Webmaster's comment: Please note that this was not a terrorist attack by a Muslim. This was a terrorist attack by a American white male.)
11-13-15 US Supreme Court to hear challenge to Texas abortion case
US Supreme Court to hear challenge to Texas abortion case
The US Supreme Court has said it will consider a challenge to a controversial Texas abortion law. Backed by Republicans, the law places high standards on clinics and puts new requirements on doctors that provide abortions in the state. Proponents of the law say that it is necessary to protect women's health. Opponents say that argument is an excuse to cover up efforts aimed at shutting abortion clinics and making the procedure harder to obtain.
10-30-15 Peak China: Beijing makes doomed attempt to boost birth rate
Peak China: Beijing makes doomed attempt to boost birth rate
Communist Party's decision to end the one-child policy won't prevent China having the world's most rapidly ageing population. The one-child policy, though brutal, was never universal. Only about a third of Chinese couples have been restricted to one child. Minorities in Tibet and elsewhere, as well as the ever-growing army of couples who are both single children, have been allowed two and sometimes more. As a result, the official fertility rate is 1.7 children per woman. (Webmaster's comment: The so-called China one-child policy was perfect for the world's right-wingers and conservatives and Republican haters of Communism and the Chinese. Never mind the actual facts presented in this NewScientist article.)
10-29-15 China to end one-child policy and allow two
China to end one-child policy and allow two
China has decided to end its decades-long one-child policy, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports. Couples will now be allowed to have two children, it said, citing a statement from the Communist Party. The controversial policy was introduced nationally in 1979, to slow the population growth rate. It is estimated to have prevented about 400 million births. However concerns at China's ageing population led to pressure for change. Couples who violated the one-child policy faced a variety of punishments, from fines and the loss of employment to forced abortions. Over time, the policy has been relaxed in some provinces, as demographers and sociologists raised concerns about rising social costs and falling worker numbers.
10-25-15 US abortion debate: Both sides speak
US abortion debate: Both sides speak
Abortion is a highly contested issue in the United States, despite a 1973 Supreme Court decision legalising the procedure. Two women on both sides of the issue talked to the BBC.
10-24-15 How fetal tissue is used in medical research
How fetal tissue is used in medical research
Planned Parenthood has been heavily criticized for providing cell tissue from aborted fetuses to medical researchers. Here, a quick look at the legitimacy of those claims: How do scientists use fetal tissue? How long has this research been conducted? (1930s) Why has this become an issue? Were any laws broken? Are there any alternatives? Will fetal research continue? The real tissue traders. (Webmasters' comment: The Republicans and conservatives appeal to the religious ignorant to get their votes and support. Facts and science have never been any of these groups strong suits. Back to the days of keeping all sexual matters and knowledge hidden in the closet is what they're after.)
10-13-15 Planned Parenthood to pay costs of foetal tissue donations
Planned Parenthood to pay costs of foetal tissue donations
Planned Parenthood will no longer accept money to offset the costs of its foetal tissue donation programme. The US reproductive health organisation made the change after an anti-abortion group accused Planned Parenthood of profiting from the practice. Planned Parenthood has denied making a profit, but acknowledged that it charged fees up to $100 (£65) to cover processing costs. The allegations have set off an effort to pull the group's federal funding. "Planned Parenthood's policies on foetal tissue donation already exceed the legal requirements," Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards wrote in a letter to the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday.
10-2-15 Why I gave up my baby
Why I gave up my baby
In South Korea being an unmarried mother is considered shameful, so many young women feel unable to bring up their children. But there is a stigma associated with adoption too. As a result, large numbers of these children will never be adopted.
10-1-15 The GOP campaign to destroy Planned Parenthood has nothing to do with the videos
The GOP campaign to destroy Planned Parenthood has nothing to do with the videos
But when CBR released the "full tape," which was actually five different shots spliced together, there was no statement about harvesting the brain, and CBR founder Gregg Cunningham was extremely squirrelly about what it actually showed. In an interview with Time's Michael Scherer, he resorted to CIA-esque evasions when asked about the origins of the tape: "I am neither confirming or denying the affiliation of the clinic who did this abortion." He did insist it was an abortion, but the only proof he presented was that nobody tried to save the fetus after it was delivered. But as several medical specialists argued in a subsequent Time piece, a sane doctor would do no such thing. There is no reason to attempt violently intrusive intensive care on a 17-week-old fetus, because its lungs are simply not developed enough to work in the open air. The absolute edge of fetal viability is just under 22 weeks, and that only in a bare handful of cases.
9-30-15 US anti-abortion campaigner has Australia visa revoked
US anti-abortion campaigner has Australia visa revoked
US anti-abortion campaigner Troy Newman has been stopped from flying to Australia after his visa for the country was revoked. He has previously called for the execution of abortion doctors. The minister, Peter Dutton, confirmed to local media that he cancelled the visa amid concerns Mr Newman's presence could incite violence against abortion doctors and the women using them. Mr Newman has called women who have abortions "murderers".
9-29-15 Why do conservatives let men off so easy in the great abortion debate?
Why do conservatives let men off so easy in the great abortion debate?
Draconian anti-abortion measures will go into effect in Ohio on Tuesday, part of a broader national effort to incrementally dismantle legal abortion by over-regulation. Barring judicial intervention, one of the consequences of the new measures will be the closing of Cincinnati's Planned Parenthood clinic, cutting millions of area residents off from their sole remaining abortion provider, as well as from the family planning and birth control services the agency provides; Planned Parenthood is appealing the regulations, and responding with a nation-wide "Pink Out" day of protest, also on Tuesday. This concerted, coordinated attack on Americans' constitutionally protected abortion rights (and the further attack on birth control) isn't new, but has picked up pace and efficacy in recent years, with dozens upon dozens of new, increasingly onerous restrictions placed on women across the country. And yet — for all the sound and fury (and threats and murderous violence) — there's one thing that America's anti-abortion activists never seem to recall: Babies require sperm.
9-29-15 Planned Parenthood decries 'smear campaign' videos
Planned Parenthood decries 'smear campaign' videos
The head of Planned Parenthood has defended her organisation before Congress, calling a series of secretly recorded videos a "smear campaign". Ms Richards said foetal tissue donation is legal and noted its small role in what Planned Parenthood does. "These outrageous accusations based on videos are offensive and untrue," Ms Richards said. "But facts have never gotten in the way of campaigns to keep women from getting healthcare." "For many poor women, Planned Parenthood may be one of their only services of medical care in underserved or rural communities," he said. Representative Brendan Boyle, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, said he disagreed and that unintended pregnancy and abortion rates would actually go up if Planned Parenthood ceased to exist. Citing a Congressional Budget Office study, he said that 390,000 women in the US would lose access to health care without Planned Parenthood. (Webmaster's comment: The videos were also "photoshopped" and edited to leave out the actual facts. Typical conservative tactics to create lies.)
9-25-15 Why liberals should support banning late-term abortions
Why liberals should support banning late-term abortions
Flush from their sweeping victory in the fight for same-sex marriage, many liberals may be inclined to think things are going their way on every issue in the culture war. But that simply isn't true about abortion. Yes, exactly half of the country calls itself "pro-choice," but when pollsters ask people their views broken down by trimester, the results look far more conflicted. While 61 percent think abortion should be legal during the first trimester (up to 12 weeks), that number drops all the way down to 27 percent during the second trimester (13-27 weeks), and it collapses to 14 percent (with a whopping 80 percent of Americans thinking the procedure should be illegal) during the third trimester (27-40 weeks).
9-23-15 Fight over Planned Parenthood could shut down the US government
Fight over Planned Parenthood could shut down the US government
Abortion takes centre stage in the US, as Republicans and Democrats spar over funding for reproductive services provider Planned Parenthood. HERE we go again. The US government could shut down this week, as it did in 2013, over a failure to agree a budget for operations. This time the issue is the government’s funding of Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organisation that provides women’s health services, including abortions. The trouble started in July, when a Californian anti-abortion group released a series of videos in which people posed as company representatives wanting to obtain fetal tissue for scientific research. They secretly filmed meetings with Planned Parenthood executives, discussing the details involved in collecting and delivering the tissue. Anti-abortion activists say the videos show that Planned Parenthood will sell fetal remains for profit, which is illegal. Supporters of Planned Parenthood counter that the videos are edited deceptively and that reimbursement for handling and shipping the tissue is standard in the medical field. Republicans in Congress launched an investigation in July, and a number of states followed suit. Last month, the first investigations to report findings concluded that Planned Parenthood complies with state laws and regulations.
9-1-15 Pope on abortion: Francis relaxes forgiveness rules
Pope on abortion: Francis relaxes forgiveness rules
Pope Francis is making it easier for women and doctors to seek forgiveness for abortion, by allowing all priests to forgive it. In Catholicism, abortion is viewed as such a grave sin that it can punished with excommunication. In most countries, only a bishop can approve forgiveness for abortion. They would then delegate an expert priest to hear the confession.
8-12-15 Early pregnancy test may predict miscarriage and chance of twins
Early pregnancy test may predict miscarriage and chance of twins
A urine test may reveal how likely a pregnant woman is to have a successful pregnancy and give birth to a healthy child. HOME tests can tell you if you’re pregnant – but what if they could also reveal if you’re expecting twins, or likely to miscarry? Using algorithms to predict the outcome of a pregnancy based on the proteins in a woman’s urine could make this a reality.
8-8-15 Anti-thalidomide hero Frances Oldham Kelsey dies at 101
Anti-thalidomide hero Frances Oldham Kelsey dies at 101
Frances Oldham Kelsey, the Canadian doctor who played a central role in preventing the drug thalidomide being distributed in the US, has died at 101. She refused to approve it while working for the US drug agency in the 1960s. It was later found that thalidomide - prescribed to pregnant women to ease morning sickness - was causing thousands of babies to be born with missing limbs or organs. Many died. In 2012 Grunenthal, the pharmaceutical company responsible finally apologized, more than five decades after the drug was recalled in 1961. (Webmaster's comment: Severely crippled, missing limbs, missing organs, born with flippers, ALL excellent reasons to have an abortion. Why condemn a child to a short life of total misery? And a mother to suffer the misery of watching.)
8-5-15 Jeb Bush: I misspoke about women's health funding
Jeb Bush: I misspoke about women's health funding
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush was forced to backtrack after saying funding for female health was too high. The former Florida governor told a conservative Christian audience: "I'm not sure we need half a billion dollars for women's health issues." His response was: "The next president should veto Planned Parenthood'', which drew applause. He said "women's issues" did not need so much money as half a billion dollars. (Webmaster's comment: Outrageous statement! That's $3.33 per woman in America. How much health care do you get for that? A bottle of aspirin?)
8-3-15 Planned Parenthood funding target of Senate Republicans
Planned Parenthood funding target of Senate Republicans
Republican Senators are moving ahead with plans to defund Planned Parenthood after anti-abortion activists claimed its employees were selling the organs of aborted foetuses. (Webmaster's comment: The foetuses are already DEAD, but they can still contribute to bettering the world by their organs being used for medical research, just like dead people benefit the world by donating their bodies to medical research. There is nothing morally wrong with that except in the minds of conservatives who will create any exaggeration, twist any facts, in order to deny the right of reproductive choice to women. To them forcing a women to birth a child is simply requiring a women to fulfill her role in life. This even means birthing foetuses created by rape and incest. She must always be a receptacle for whatever a MAN does and must always bear HIS fruit. Many conservatives have the beliefs of primitive barbarians. Many would feel right at home in the days of the Spanish inquisition, in the days of burning witches at the stake, of burning crosses, and of mob lynchings.)
6-29-15 Texas anti-abortion law blocked by US Supreme Court
Texas anti-abortion law blocked by US Supreme Court
Several abortion clinics in Texas will remain open after the US Supreme Court decided to put strict new measures against them on hold. The justices voted 5-4 to grant an emergency appeal from the clinics after a federal appeals court had earlier upheld the new Texas law. Clinics have argued that the measures will lead to a second major wave of Texas clinic closures in as many years. The southern US state had 41 abortion clinics in 2012 but only 19 remain. The new restrictions were due to take effect on 1 July.
6-22-15 Tumblr features pregnant pro-choice advocates
Tumblr features pregnant pro-choice advocates
As the debate over abortion rights continues in many parts of the US, a Tumblr blog titled Pregnant, Parenting and Pro-Choice is gaining traction promoting what it says is the real - and very family-friendly - face of the movement. The experience of one abortion provider who worked through her pregnancy received 34,000 notes. "When I was pregnant, patients often asked me if it was hard/weird do their abortion," Pratima Gupta wrote. "My response was simple. 'Not at all. It is not the right time for you, but it is for me. Later on, if you decide to become a parent, I will be by your side too.'"
6-9-15 Court cuts Texas abortion access
Court cuts Texas abortion access
Most of the abortion clinics in Texas will be closed, following a federal court ruling that upholds an anti-abortion law in the second largest state in the US. The law requires clinics to operate more like hospitals, which proponents say will make women more safe. It means only seven abortion clinics will stay open, forcing some people to travel long distances for abortions. Texas currently has only 17 abortion providers.
6-8-15 Abortion rate down 12% in US
Abortion rate down 12% in US
The rate of abortions has declined across almost all of the US since 2010, a new survey from the Associated Press has found. Abortions have decreased 12% in both liberal and conservative-run states. Laws across US states make it harder or easier to obtain contraception or get an abortion. One factor behind the abortion decline is the fall in the teenage pregnancy rate, which reached its lowest mark for decades in 2010.
5-29-15 Americans Choose "Pro-Choice" for First Time in Seven Years
Americans Choose "Pro-Choice" for First Time in Seven Years
Half of Americans consider themselves "pro-choice" on abortion, surpassing the 44% who identify as "pro-life." This is the first time since 2008 that the pro-choice position has had a statistically significant lead in Americans' abortion views. Americans divide 50% "pro-choice," 44% "pro-life" on abortion. Majority of women, 54%, now pro-choice, vs. 46% of men.
5-7-15 The row over Chile's 'abortion tutorials'
The row over Chile's 'abortion tutorials'
Video guides on how to have an "accidental" abortion have gone viral in Chile. The instructional videos claim to show the extremes women go to in order to terminate a pregnancy in the country. But they are in fact campaigning videos. They have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and prompted an intense debate about the country's policy on the issue.
4-2-15 'Reversible' abortions: how sound is the science?
'Reversible' abortions: how sound is the science?
Arizona has passed a law that requires doctors who provide drug-based abortions to tell women that the process may be reversed after taking the first dose. Some claim that the science is flawed and it's just another way of putting pressure on women to change their mind about having an abortion.
1-23-15 Abortion fight: House Republicans accused of 'incompetence'
Abortion fight: House Republicans accused of 'incompetence'
A funny thing happened on the way to a revival of the US culture wars. The Republican leadership of the House of Representatives had planned to pass a bill prohibiting abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy on Thursday, timed to coincide with the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalising abortion in the US. As tens of thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators descended on Washington, DC, for the annual March for Life, however, a rebellion was brewing in Republican ranks. A group of legislators, largely female and from moderate districts, objected to a provision in the bill that only would have allowed late-term abortions in the case of rape if the victim had filed a police report.
1-22-15 House passes abortion bill during anti-abortion march
House passes abortion bill during anti-abortion march
The US House has passed a bill to tighten restrictions on abortion, just as anti-abortion activists were marching through Washington, DC. The measure would permanently ban funding for abortion costs, including tax credits offered under Barack Obama's healthcare law.
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