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Media Promotes Illegal Abortion Death Myths, Though Legal Abortions Kill Too

by Maria Gallagher
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
April 8, 2004

New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Some major newspapers in the U.S. are using foreign horror stories to try to promote the idea that the federal government should get involved in the overseas abortion business. But the editorials and columns are filled with myths circulated by the abortion lobby, according to pro-life advocates in the U.S.

The newspaper pieces also appear to be part of a campaign to defeat President George W. Bush, who has compiled a long list of pro-life accomplishments during his term in office.

Just this week, both the Boston Globe and the New York Times ran abortion promotion pieces on their editorial pages.

A Boston Globe editorial claimed that tens of thousands of women around the world are dying from "unsafe abortions" -- a situation that the Globe claims could be reversed, if only the Bush Administration funded overseas organizations that provide or promote abortions.

The editorial carried some of the claims routinely made by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which often laments "unsafe abortions" in its effort to increase abortions worldwide.

The Population Research Institute, an organization which works to debunk the myth of the worldwide "population explosion," cites on its website a Planned Parenthood statement which said, "Unsafe abortion is of considerable concern in some regions, but the actions (family planning agencies) are able to undertake are constrained by existing laws and lack of facilities."

According to the Population Research institute, "The International Planned Parenthood Federation frequently boasts about how it or other population control organizations use (menstrual regulation) to undermine the laws of developing nations. This is usually done…in the name of reducing ‘unsafe abortions.’"

The Globe cites a World Health Organization study showing that 70,000 women around the world die each year from "unsafe abortions." However, the Globe fails to mention the fact that a large body of medical research shows that legal abortions can also be unsafe.

The Elliot Institute, which researches the physical and psychological effects of abortion on women, notes that the risks associated with abortion are great: the possibility of a perforated uterus, hemorrhaging, future miscarriages, loss of fertility, along with increased incidence of psychiatric hospitalization, depression, and substance abuse.

Abortion can even be deadly for women: women who undergo legal, purportedly "safe" abortions can die from complications following the procedures.

According to the Congressional Record, in October of last year, Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana noted, "There are many who believe that abortion is safe in America. But truthfully, despite the use of local anesthesia, a full 97 percent of women that have abortions report experiencing pain during the procedure, which more than a third describe as intense -- according to medical studies, severe or very severe. Compared to other pains, researchers have rated the pain from abortion as more painful than a bone fracture, about the same as a cancer pain."

In an effort to promote its pro-abortion stance, the Globe also cites a favorite Planned Parenthood statistic: 87 percent of counties in the U.S. do not have any abortion operations. The Globe and the abortion lobby claim this is due to doctors being driven out of the abortion profession, but a number of organizations that study the issue note that this may simply be the result of decreasing demand for abortion.

Abortions have been steadily declining in the U.S. In addition, numerous national public opinion polls show that an increasing number of Americans -- especially young Americans -- support the pro-life position.

Yet, the Globe resurrected a favorite old pro-abortion symbol -- the coat hanger -- in an attempt to push for U.S. tax dollars to be spent on foreign abortions.

The Globe ended its editorial by saying, "At least the United States banished the coat-hanger abortions being resorted to by the poor, young, marginalized women of the world's most desperate countries. Or did we?"

In the case of the New York Times, columnist Nicholas D. Kristof decried Portugal's intolerance for abortion, suggesting that, if abortion were made illegal in the U.S., women who attempted to get abortions would go to jail.

This statement directly contradicts repeated contentions by pro-life lawmakers such as Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey that, if abortion were outlawed in the U.S., it would be abortionists -- not post-abortive women -- who would face imprisonment.

While Kristof says he shares President Bush's aversion to abortion, he adds, "Like most Americans, I find abortion a difficult issue, because a fetus seems much more than a lump of tissue but considerably less than a human being. Most of us are deeply uncomfortable with abortion, especially in the third trimester, but we still don't equate it with murder."

Pro-life advocates note that Kristof's statements run counter to modern scientific evidence, which shows that the unborn child is fully formed only a few weeks into development, with eyes, arms, legs, a heartbeat, and brain waves.

And, contrary to the columnist's statement, polls have shown a majority of respondents do equate abortion with murder.

For instance, a Zogby poll conducted in December showed 52 percent of respondents agreed that abortion is homicide. A Gallup Youth Survey in November indicated that a whopping 72 percent of the young people polled believe that abortion is morally wrong. And a Fox News poll conducted in July found that 55 percent of those surveyed believe that life begins at conception.

Both the Boston and New York editorial pieces also ignore the testimony of American women who say they've been deeply harmed by abortion—both physically and emotionally.

It's a phenomenon that has been discussed in Washington, in Congressional hearing rooms and on the House and Senate floor. And yet, pro-life activists note that it is notably missing from the editorial pages of the Boston Globe and the New York Times.

As Congressman Pence said, "I think of a woman who said in my presence once, some 20 years after having an abortion, that not a day went by that she did not think how old that child would be. They do not tell you that in the lobby at the abortion clinic, Mr. Speaker, but they should."

Related web sites:
Population Research Institute - http://www.pop.org
Elliot Institute - http://www.afterabortion.org
Feminists for Life - http://www.feministsforlife.org


Enter your email address to receive news from LifeNews.com via email. Do you prefer to receive news daily or weekly? Daily Weekly Do you favor or oppose abortion? Favor Oppose Click here to make a PayPal donation to LifeNews.com!	Media Promotes Illegal Abortion Death Myths, Though Legal Abortions Kill Too by Maria Gallagher LifeNews.com Staff Writer April 8, 2004 New York, NY (LifeNews.com) -- Some major newspapers in the U.S. are using foreign horror stories to try to promote the idea that the federal government should get involved in the overseas abortion business. But the editorials and columns are filled with myths circulated by the abortion lobby, according to pro-life advocates in the U.S. The newspaper pieces also appear to be part of a campaign to defeat President George W. Bush, who has compiled a long list of pro-life accomplishments during his term in office. Just this week, both the Boston Globe and the New York Times ran abortion promotion pieces on their editorial pages. A Boston Globe editorial claimed that tens of thousands of women around the world are dying from "unsafe abortions" -- a situation that the Globe claims could be reversed, if only the Bush Administration funded overseas organizations that provide or promote abortions. The editorial carried some of the claims routinely made by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which often laments "unsafe abortions" in its effort to increase abortions worldwide. The Population Research Institute, an organization which works to debunk the myth of the worldwide "population explosion," cites on its website a Planned Parenthood statement which said, "Unsafe abortion is of considerable concern in some regions, but the actions (family planning agencies) are able to undertake are constrained by existing laws and lack of facilities." According to the Population Research institute, "The International Planned Parenthood Federation frequently boasts about how it or other population control organizations use (menstrual regulation) to undermine the laws of developing nations. This is usually done…in the name of reducing ‘unsafe abortions.’" The Globe cites a World Health Organization study showing that 70,000 women around the world die each year from "unsafe abortions." However, the Globe fails to mention the fact that a large body of medical research shows that legal abortions can also be unsafe. The Elliot Institute, which researches the physical and psychological effects of abortion on women, notes that the risks associated with abortion are great: the possibility of a perforated uterus, hemorrhaging, future miscarriages, loss of fertility, along with increased incidence of psychiatric hospitalization, depression, and substance abuse. Abortion can even be deadly for women: women who undergo legal, purportedly "safe" abortions can die from complications following the procedures. According to the Congressional Record, in October of last year, Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana noted, "There are many who believe that abortion is safe in America. But truthfully, despite the use of local anesthesia, a full 97 percent of women that have abortions report experiencing pain during the procedure, which more than a third describe as intense -- according to medical studies, severe or very severe. Compared to other pains, researchers have rated the pain from abortion as more painful than a bone fracture, about the same as a cancer pain." In an effort to promote its pro-abortion stance, the Globe also cites a favorite Planned Parenthood statistic: 87 percent of counties in the U.S. do not have any abortion operations. The Globe and the abortion lobby claim this is due to doctors being driven out of the abortion profession, but a number of organizations that study the issue note that this may simply be the result of decreasing demand for abortion. Abortions have been steadily declining in the U.S. In addition, numerous national public opinion polls show that an increasing number of Americans -- especially young Americans -- support the pro-life position. Yet, the Globe resurrected a favorite old pro-abortion symbol -- the coat hanger -- in an attempt to push for U.S. tax dollars to be spent on foreign abortions. The Globe ended its editorial by saying, "At least the United States banished the coat-hanger abortions being resorted to by the poor, young, marginalized women of the world's most desperate countries. Or did we?" In the case of the New York Times, columnist Nicholas D. Kristof decried Portugal's intolerance for abortion, suggesting that, if abortion were made illegal in the U.S., women who attempted to get abortions would go to jail. This statement directly contradicts repeated contentions by pro-life lawmakers such as Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey that, if abortion were outlawed in the U.S., it would be abortionists -- not post-abortive women -- who would face imprisonment. While Kristof says he shares President Bush's aversion to abortion, he adds, "Like most Americans, I find abortion a difficult issue, because a fetus seems much more than a lump of tissue but considerably less than a human being. Most of us are deeply uncomfortable with abortion, especially in the third trimester, but we still don't equate it with murder." Pro-life advocates note that Kristof's statements run counter to modern scientific evidence, which shows that the unborn child is fully formed only a few weeks into development, with eyes, arms, legs, a heartbeat, and brain waves. And, contrary to the columnist's statement, polls have shown a majority of respondents do equate abortion with murder. For instance, a Zogby poll conducted in December showed 52 percent of respondents agreed that abortion is homicide. A Gallup Youth Survey in November indicated that a whopping 72 percent of the young people polled believe that abortion is morally wrong. And a Fox News poll conducted in July found that 55 percent of those surveyed believe that life begins at conception. Both the Boston and New York editorial pieces also ignore the testimony of American women who say they've been deeply harmed by abortion—both physically and emotionally. It's a phenomenon that has been discussed in Washington, in Congressional hearing rooms and on the House and Senate floor. And yet, pro-life activists note that it is notably missing from the editorial pages of the Boston Globe and the New York Times. As Congressman Pence said, "I think of a woman who said in my presence once, some 20 years after having an abortion, that not a day went by that she did not think how old that child would be. They do not tell you that in the lobby at the abortion clinic, Mr. Speaker, but they should." Related web sites: Population Research Institute - http://www.pop.org Elliot Institute - http://www.afterabortion.org Feminists for Life - http://www.feministsforlife.org