Minnesota Abortions Fall to Nine Year Low Health Report Shows
by Paul Nowak
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
July 7, 2004
St. Paul, MN (LifeNews.com) — Abortions in Minnesota fell to a nine-year low in 2003, according to a state report released this month. The total number of reported abortions dropped from 14,239 in 2002 to 14,024 in 2003.
"Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life has worked for more than 36 years to help women understand that there is always a better choice than the pain and destruction of abortion," said Scott Fischbach, MCCL executive director. "With the efforts of MCCL’s 241 chapters and 77,000 contributors, more women are now hearing about the alternatives to abortion — such as adoption — and finding the support they need to choose life."
While the total number of abortions dropped for a second consecutive year, other statistics found in the report are "troublesome" according to the pro-life group.
In 2003, 27 percent of abortions were paid for by tax dollars, and complications from abortions rose by 13 percent. Second trimester abortions also rose 7.5 percent, and the highest percentage ever (43 percent) of women receiving having a second or more abortion was reported.
Fischbach also warned that the statistics may not be completely accurate.
"Abortionists are lying about the number of abortions they perform," said Fischbach. "By doing so, they are trying to keep women in the dark about the risks and complications of abortion, such as cervical laceration."
In an article in a May 2004 City Pages article, abortion businesses admitted that they did not report all abortions they performed, in violation of Minnesota law.
While organizations on both sides of the abortion issue are claiming credit for the decreasing numbers, Fischbach says abortion advocates’ approaches are flawed, as shown by the statistics.
"Planned Parenthood will always take credit when abortion numbers decline, even though they are the strongest advocates of abortion on demand and they fiercely oppose any attempt to protect unborn babies and their mothers," Fischbach told LifeNews.com.
"The real evidence of Planned Parenthood’s impact lies in the numbers of repeat abortions. In 2002, 40 percent of abortive women had had a previous abortion; the number grew to 43 percent in 2003," Fischbach added. "These figures clearly show that Planned Parenthood-style ‘pregnancy prevention’ is not working.
"Minnesota is known for its excellent health care and resources for people in need," Fischbach added. "No woman in Minnesota should ever feel she has to undergo an abortion."
