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PiscesLate-Term Abortions Going Strong
Soon after abortion provider Dr. George R. Tiller's death, his predecessor emerges.
Chances are you recall the death of Dr. George R. Tiller, a late-term abortion provider, who was gunned down by a 51-year-old abortion opponent. Tiller, one of the best-known late-term abortion providers, was shot in the head while serving as an usher at his Lutheran church in Wichita, Kansas.
Now, Dr. LeRoy H. Carhart, a longtime colleague of Tiller's who is based in suburban Omaha, has become his predecessor, training his own staff to provide later-term abortions and hiring two people who worked at Dr. Tiller's clinic.
"There is a need, and I feel deeply about it," says Carhart, 68, who performs some abortions up to 27 weeks, and is willing to provide them even later if they meet legal requirements and are "medically necessary."
Currently, the state law in Nebraska bans abortions in cases where a fetus clearly has reached viability, except to "preserve the life or health of the mother."
Late-term abortions are defined as the earliest point when a fetus might survive outside the womb and are the most controversial, even among many who support abortion rights.
Protesters who have spent years trying to stop Tiller's practice have now focused their efforts on Carhart, trying to get criminal charges filed against him and revoke his license. His supporters say the need to perform these types of abortions is necessary in the case of extreme genetic defects and other serious health circumstances.
"He's standing up, and so are some others," Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation, said of Carhart.
As a result of the backlash, Carhart, who has been performing abortions since the 1970s, has added top security measures to his clinic. Visitors are now required to enter through a metal detector under the watchful eye of security cameras, which record the outside of the building. A security staff has been hired for 24-hour surveillance. What's more, Carhart has taken up a reclusive lifestyle, only venturing out publicly on short, sporadic trips, and he rarely dines out (if he does, he stays for less than 30 minutes). The security measures have even affected his personal life, as his daughter was wed on a military base for privacy and protection.
"We do everything differently now," Carhart says.
No one knows whether an investigation is taking place, however, according to the State Department of Health and Human Services (which regulates physicians), Carhart had no formal disciplinary complaints on his record.
When asked if he fears for his life, Carhart says: "[Abortion opponents] have never targeted me more. But to me, the most dangerous response would be for me to stop what I am doing. The thought that killing Tiller might also succeed in closing another clinic -- that's my main reason for keeping open."
What do you think of Dr. Carhart's practice?
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- 29 Comments
So sad that Sara would rather a woman die and leave her husband and possibly other children.
My nephew was born at 28 weeks weighing 1 lb 14 oz and he is now a happy, healthy 9 year old. If someone at that same time frame had an abortion, it would most definitly be murder.
If the mom is going to die if she continues that’s different but I didn’t get the impression from the article that the late term abortions are for the sake of the mothers health.
No one’s business if someone wants an abortion except the woman having one. If you don’t believe in abotion then don’t have one and mind your own business.
I find it fascinating how many “anti-abortion” people there are who don’t adopt but choose to have their own biological children. If they really believe in their anti-abortion movement theyy would only adopt AND would take on all responsibility (physical and financial) for the mother while she is pregnant. Until someone does that they are a hypocrite who needs to mind their own business.
Jamie, you are so evil!!! Your first sentence says it all!!…really? Nobody’s business?
What if I no longer want to care for my 1 year old? And I want to “terminate” it…is it not society’s “business” to stop me? If it is viable, IT IS VIABLE!!! Life is not defined as when YOU think it is. You are one sick person!!! No better than the “Dr” performing the killing.
-Frank
Frank,
Jamie is right, it is nobody’s else’s business except the woman having it. If you did not want to care for your 1-year old child anymore you can give it up for adoption or put it into the foster care system.
Jamie, I think you are right on the money with the anti-abortionists adopting instead of having their own children. - Jenn
There is no doctor that will do a late term abortion unless it’s medically necessary. No matter how the article is written, which frankly it’s written to get a rise out of people. These abortions are needed. It’s easy to think that these don’t need to be done, but I’ll tell you something, I have a friend who had out of control blood pressure, birth wasn’t an option, it would have killed her, c-section impossible because you bleed to death if you have surgery with high blood pressure, the only option was to abort the baby at 26 weeks. Let me tell you to this day it haunts her that she had to do that, but it was her or nobody, basically. They aborted the baby, waited for her blood pressure to stabilize, and induced labor. These things aren’t done just for the heck of it, no doctor would do that. It’s sad that people will ignore the real reason these are done, to save lives. I guess it’s just easier to ignore the real reasons for these procedures. Anyone who wants to ban them is asking for mothers to die instead.
Frank you are SO off the mark “What if I no longer want to care for my 1 year old? And I want to “terminate” it”
No, because that would be murder. A pregnancy termination is a world of difference. Life is NOT what YOU define it to be.
Even if labor killed me or my baby would be born with problems or not make it I would still rather go through with the pregnancy. Abortions should not be legal peroid. Early or late term!
Shannon what’s great, you can chose that. I chose to live because well I have a daughter. And if this pregnancy I’m currently in were going to kill me I’d chose to stay alive for my daughter, you know the one that’s living already outside me and depends on me.
It’s easy isn’t it, when you’re not faced with death to make those stupid statements isn’t it?
I guess I am in the wrong thread. I thought the right to life was more important than one’s personal agenda. I am a dad and I fail to see how giving the baby up for adoption is not a good choice. Have it and give it up. Just like Jenn said…give your 1 yr old up if you dont want it.
I do not take away from the fact that abortions may sometimes be necessary, but we do soooo many in this country that it has become a form of birth control.
You don’t become a predecessor, you become a successor. Just had to say that.
If it’s a matter where the mother’s life is at risk, then it’s unfortunate but the pregnancy has to end. In cases where it’s not a danger to keep the pregnancy, she should give it up for adoption if she’s really so hellbent on getting rid of it. After all, by the time the words “late-term” apply, the baby is well aware of what’s happening to it.
A life is a life! No matter how what! I agree with Frank!
I have some friends who have made the choice to end their pregnancies. The pain that these women deal with in remembering who they lost will always be with them. I think it is a hard decision for many, but they wouldn’t feel bad if they didn’t know that it was their fault the child didn’t live.
That being said. I agree with Frank. I believe in life.
You mothers that think this is okay make me sick that doctor that was murdered got what he had coming to him. He was an usher at his church? How the hell do you kill babies every day for a living and then go to church? This other doctor, my god if the man has to have such drastic security measures at his office then maybe he’s doing something wrong. The lack of respect for life in this country is absoultly disguting and it infuriates me to hear someone say “well a woman has a right to choose” murder should not be a womans choice. Do any of you pro late term abortion people know that these babies are not a pile of goo that gets sucked into a tube their BODIES have to be disposed of. I have a friend who has had six abortions (early term) and has now decided that she is ready to concieve and has not been able to get pregnant for two years.
Most late term abortions are done by doing a “D&X” (dilation and extraction.) Want to know what that involves? I don’t know how anyone could read the description and NOT feel that it is purely murder.
D&X: The woman’s cervix is dilated. If necessary, the fetus is rotated until it is facing feet downwards. The surgeon reaches into the uterus and pulls the fetus’ body, with the exception of its head, out of the woman’s body. Surgical scissors are inserted into the base of the fetal skull, and withdrawn. A suction tube is inserted and the fetus’ brains are removed through aspiration. This partially collapses the fetal skull. The fetus is then fully removed from the woman’s body.
This isn’t murder???? Most often just because the child wasn’t quite perfect…
It’s amazing how easily people ignore why the procedure is done so they can continue to have their ignorant beliefs. More power to you.
No Pamala, it is amazing how people ignore what the procedure is truly doing so that they can continue on with their ignorant beliefs that they should be able to legally kill their baby.
I agree with Momof2. Sucking a human being’s brain out of it’s skull is murder! Our country has lost the idea that life has meaning and is sacred. Abortion has become,as Frank said, a form of birth control in this country. If a woman doesn’t want to get pregant she has three viable opions - have surgery to be sterilized, use one or more contraceptives, or stay celebit!
So sad that late term abortions are still happening…