Is Abortion Healthcare?
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
What Is Reproductive Healthcare?
An abortion is a direct and intentional killing of a human embryo or fetus in the womb of the mother. Abortion procurement often gets lumped together with other procedures that, in certain political rhetoric, are collectively referred to as “reproductive healthcare.” The term “healthcare” is misleading for two reasons. First, such a concept neglects the well-being of the unborn child. Second, as we shall see, such “healthcare” also fails to seek the true well-being of the women involved.
Dangers of "Medication" Abortion
The two-drug process for medication or chemical abortion, which is becoming increasingly popular, involves ingesting RU-486 (mifepristone) and misoprostol. Chemical abortion comes with a whole slew of potential side effects including infections, hemorrhages, failed abortions, and other complications resulting in ER visits. Ordinary side effects include the disruption of the menstrual cycle and abnormal bleeding. The chemical abortion pill-by-mail makes killing the unborn child private but, should a serious complication occur, leaves both patients cut off from medical supervision. However, if these abortion pills are taken, the effects can still be undone.
What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
An ectopic pregnancy (otherwise known as a tubal or extrauterine pregnancy) is the implantation of the human embryo in a location other than the uterus, most often on a fallopian tube. If the embryo continues to develop there, it can cause the fallopian tube to rupture, endangering the lives of mother and child alike.
There is an ethical way to solve the problem in this scenario. According to Church teaching and the principle of double effect, the fallopian tube can be removed with the intent to save the mother’s life (called salpingectomy), even though this will likely result in the death of the embryo as a secondary effect. The point is that the main objective is to save the life of the mother, while the loss of the embryo is not the goal of the surgery. Salpingectomy is the most ethical option when it comes to ectopic pregnancies. Abortion, by contrast, is the direct and deliberate destruction of an unborn life.
Do Pro-Life Laws Impact Treatment for Miscarriage?
Outlawing abortion will not affect treatment for miscarriage. Abortion restrictions never prevent patients from getting life-saving treatments. The myth that pro-life laws restrict necessary treatments has gained traction in popular news stories following several tragic deaths of women with pregnancy complications including Nevaeh Crain. In response, Dr. Susan Bane, a Texas OB/GYN, said the blame rests on those medical professionals who did not help these women. In Bane’s words: “There is not a single law in this country…that prevents the medical care that these two patients did not receive.” The truth is that pro-life laws do not inhibit doctors from treating moms dealing with pregnancy emergencies. Watch Dr. Bane’s explanation video below to learn more about the impact of pro-life laws in states like Texas.
