Subject: Elliot Institute News, Vol. 6, No. 3
From the Leader in Post-Abortion Research
Vol. 6, No. 3 -- Feb. 9, 2006
Visit us online:
http://www.AfterAbortion.Info
-
Abortion Ban Reintroduced in South Dakota With Rape and Incest Exceptions
-
12 Ways to Help #3: Pray for the Women, Men and Families Impacted by Abortion
Abortion Ban Reintroduced in South Dakota With Rape and Incest Exceptions
Women Who Became Pregnant Through Sexual Assault Say Abortion Causes Them Further Harm
Legislators in South Dakota are planning to introduce an abortion ban that would
allow exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, after a ban
without the exceptions was overturned by voters this fall.
The new bill would allow exceptions for sexual assault pregnancies as well as
those that seriously endanger the life or physical health of the pregnant woman.
Two other states - Mississippi and Utah - are also considering similar bans.
In 2006, South Dakota legislators passed a law outlawing abortion except when
the mother's life was in danger, but it was overturned by voters by a margin of
56 percent to 44 percent. According to a newspaper poll taken before the vote,
56 percent of voters who said they planned to vote against the ban or who were
undecided said they would support it if it contained an exception for
pregnancies resulting from rape or incest
The original law did contain a provision allowing women who had been sexually
assaulted to get the "morning after pill," which can act as an abortifacient.
Language in the new bill allows a woman to get a surgical or chemical abortion
if the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault.
While legislators say they are confident the bill will reduce the number of
abortions in South Dakota and that voters will support the new ban, a
group of
women who experienced pregnancies resulting from rape or incest say that
abortion is not the answer. While acknowledging that such pregnancies are
extremely difficult, they say that abortion further compounds the trauma of
sexual assault and that they wouldn't advise other women in the same situation
to abort.
A survey of 192 women who became pregnant through rape or incest (reported in
the book Victims and
Victors) found that nearly 80 percent of the woman who had abortions
said that they strongly regretted the abortion, with most saying it had caused
far more harm than good in their lives. Among women who gave birth to their
children, the consensus against abortion was even stronger.
Of the women who reported having abortions, most reported feeling pressured by
family members or health care workers to undergo abortions. Further, abortion is
often used by sexual predators to cover up ongoing incest or sexual abuse and to
enable them to continue to prey on their victims. Many clinics do not ask
questions about possible sexual assault and an undercover investigation of
abortion clinics by the pro-life group Life Dynamics in 2002 found that many
clinics told teens to lie about their age so that the clinic would not have to
report the abusive relationship.
10 Fast Facts About Abortion's Injustice and Risks to Women
1. 64% of women having abortions felt
pressured by others.1 Coercion can escalate to violence or even
murder.1,2
2. 52% felt rushed and 54% were not sure about the decision at the time, yet 67%
received no counseling beforehand.1
3. 84% reported that they did not receive adequate counseling.1
4. 79% were not informed about available alternatives.1
5. 31% of women suffered health complications after abortion.1 10%
suffer immediate complications, one-fifth of which are life-threatening.3
6. Women have a 65% higher risk of clinical depression after abortion compared
to women who give birth.4
7. 65% suffer multiple symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after
abortion.1
8. Death rates from all causes are 3.5 times higher among women who abort,
compared to women who give birth.5
9. 60% said "part of me died." according to a survey of women who aborted.1
10. Suicide rates are 6-7 times higher compared to women who give birth.6
Citations
1. VM Rue et. al.,
"Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and
Russian women," Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16 (2004).
2. See the special report, "Forced Abortion in America," at
http://www.unfairchoice.info/resources.htm.
3. Frank, et.al., "Induced Abortion Operations and Their Early Sequelae," Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 35(73):175-180 (April 1985); Grimes and Cates, "Abortion: Methods and Complications", in Human Reproduction, 2nd ed., 796-813; and M.A. Freedman, "Comparison of complication rates in first trimester abortions performed by physician assistants and physicians," Am. J. Public Health 76(5):550-554 (1986).
4. JR Cougle, DC Reardon & PK Coleman, "Depression Associated With Abortion and Childbirth: A Long-Term Analysis of the NLSY Cohort," Medical Science Monitor 9(4): CR105-112 (2003).
5. M Gissler et. al., "Pregnancy Associated Deaths in Finland 1987-1994 -- definition problems and benefits of record linkage," Acta Obsetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 76:651-657 (1997).
6. Mika Gissler, Elina Hemminki, Jouko Lonnqvist, "Suicides after pregnancy in Finland: 1987-94: register linkage study" British Medical Journal 313:1431-4, 1996; and M. Gissler, "Injury deaths, suicides and homicides associated with pregnancy, Finland 1987-2000," European J. Public Health 15(5):459-63, 2005.
Click here to download this information as a reproducible fact sheet.
12 Ways to Help Spread the Unchoice Message
#3: Pray for the Women, Men and Families Impacted by Abortion
If Americans knew
the truth about unwanted, misinformed or forced abortions ... they would not
push women to abort or deny them the opportunity to heal. Millions still suffer
in the wake of a procedure that was never safe ... never just ... and never
about free or fully informed choices.
Americans have been kept in the dark and many unwittingly push their daughters,
wives, sisters or friends into unwanted and dangerous abortions. Meanwhile,
countless women who have lived the abortion nightmare are resorting to despair
or even suicide. It is urgent that we educate others about abortion's injustice
and danger to everyone involved. With your help, we can stop others from pushing
abortion in lieu of authentic choices and offer renewed hope and healing to
women, men and families hurt by abortion.
Below is just one way you can help this important effort. To see the complete list of 12 Ways to Help, click here.
3. Pray for the Women, Men and Families Impacted by Abortion
Countless women remain shattered by the pain of being pushed or forced into unwanted abortions. Many have suffered personal betrayal or professional malpractice. Some are so driven to despair that they contemplate, attempt, or even complete suicide. Mothers grieve the many injustices, but above all, the loss of a child. Family and friends grieve, too. Many of them have also lost a mother, daughter, sister or friend to abortion-related malpractice or pregnancy-related violence.
Please pray for all those impacted by abortion. Not just this once, but every day. Make this one of your daily intentions. Pray especially for those in urgent need of hope and healing. Pray also for the emotional and financial support of the many generous women and men who provide post-abortion counseling services. It is very difficult, draining, heart-wrenching work. They need your prayers.
Please also pray for the Elliot Institute, our staff, and our families. Pray especially that we will have compassion in all that we do, and the wisdom to see all the opportunities and find all the resources we need to accomplish this work. Finally, consider starting a prayer chain or encouraging others to also pray regularly for the intentions above.
SALE! Order Giving Sorrow Words by Feb. 28 and Get 15% Off
"I wish someone had said, 'There would be losses having a baby, but don't underestimate the loss of having an abortion.' " --Lee
Drawing on the personal experiences of more than 200 women who had abortions, Giving Sorrow Words explores the hidden realities of abortion, including the lack of support, misinformation, and intense pressure and coercion applied by partners, family, and society to force women into unwanted abortions. This is not just another book of abortion stories, but an examination of the obstacles women face when their pregnancies are unwanted by others in their lives. As one reviewer noted, Giving Sorrow Words "refuses to accept oversimplified explanations or solutions to abortion. The time has come to stop ignoring the devastating consequences for all."
Giving Sorrow Words is available from the Elliot Institute through its Acorn Books imprint. Order by Feb. 28 and get the book for only $12.71 -- 15% off the cover price (for orders of 7 or more copies, contact us about bulk pricing). To place an order, see below or send a check for $12.71 plus $3.00 for shipping to Acorn Books, PO Box 7348, Springfield, IL 62791. Please include a note indicating that it is for the Giving Sorrow Words special offer.
Find out more about other Elliot Institute resources at
www.unchoice.info/resources.htm.
To place an order, call Acorn Books at 1-888-412-2676 or email
amy@afterabortion.info.
DONATIONS to the Elliot Institute can be made here
*********************************************************************************************************
>>>> Please Forward to Your Friends and Associates <<<<
But if you do forward it, you should remove the unsubscribe link at the bottom or they may unsubscribe YOU by mistake.
*********************************************************************************************************