Reply To: Attack on Abortion Law
“These bills present the idea that there’s something that looks like what you or a person on the street would call a baby – a thing that’s almost ready to go for a walk,” said Dr Jen Gunter, a gynecologist. “In reality, you’re talking about something that’s millimeters in size and doesn’t look anything like that.”
“It’s a process – the heart doesn’t just pop up one day,” said Imershein. “It’s not a little child that just appears and just grows larger” Dr Sara Imershein, a gynecologist and obstetrician, explained.
“Nobody is doing late-term abortions – it doesn’t happen,” said Gunter of the medical definition. “But it’s become a part of our lexicon now.” Because anti-abortion activists twisted the phrase into a political construct understood to be any abortion after the 21st week.”The whole point of these bills is to introduce terminology that makes people think differently about pregnancy,” said Gunter . “We can’t use the incorrect language in the bills,” said Gunter. “Because once you start using incorrect language, you’ve basically conceded.”
Gunter said six weeks is not enough time to make informed medical choices. It’s before most women know they’re pregnant, and before fetal malformations can be diagnosed.