West Virginia Abortions Fall by 14 Percent After Right to Know Law Passed 
Email this article
Printer friendly page
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 23, 2007
Charleston, WV (LifeNews.com) — There’s more evidence coming in that pro-life legislation saves lives and reduces the number of abortions. After the West Virginia legislature approved a law that gives women considering an abortion information on its risks and dangers the number of abortions in the state dropped significantly.
In 2001, there were 2,366 abortions performed in the state and more than 2000 were done in 2002.
The Right to Know bill became law in 2003 despite opposition from pro-abortion Gov. Bob Wise and abortions in the state have declined 14 percent ever since.
A new report from the state health department released today shows abortions dropped by that amount form 2004 to 2006 — declining from 1,945 to 1,674.
During that time, the state legislature also approved a bill to protect pregnant women and unborn children who are victims of violence.
Melissa Adkins, executive director of West Virginians for Life, told the Associated Press that her group is pleased by the decline but wants to see her state become abortion free.
"We’re glad to see the numbers dropping, but we have a lot more work to do,” she said. "Obviously, we don’t want any abortions that are elective. One is too many.”
There are two abortion businesses in the state, both in Charleston, and, according to the Bureau of Public Health’s latest vital statistics report, most of the women having abortions in the state were residents. However, Ohio women had seven percent of the abortions done there and Kentucky women had six percent.
Most of the abortions done in the state were on babies that were about nine weeks into the pregnancy and 10 abortions were done on babies who were 20 weeks or more along.
While the number of abortions is on the decline, the number of minor teenagers having abortions rose from 102 to 105.
The Right to Know law requires abortion facilities to provide the information to women considering abortions at least 24 hours in advance. The information also includes fetal development information and telling women that their partner is obligated to pay child support if the baby is born.
Abortion practitioners who fail to comply with the law will receive a warning. Following the second noncompliance, they can lose their medical licenses.
Related web sites:
West Virginians for Life – https://www.wvforlife.org
