There have sometimes been violence associated with the abortion debate in the United States of America. However, which side commits such violence?
Anti-Abortion Violence?
Those who protest against the legality of therapeutic abortion are often vilified as violent. "Protestors [against abortion] seem to have changed tactics, and engaged in hate letters, harassing phone calls, bomb threats, etc." says ReligiousTolerance.org (1). Back in April of 2009, the Department of Homeland Security released a document titled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" which pointed out specifically those against abortion are possible terrorists and even assumed that "right-wing" people were racist against blacks (2). Even Sherry Colb, who shows an intelligent understanding of the topic, assumes that pro-lifers are almost always the instigators of violence as is shown by her statement: "In hearing about clinic attacks, my initial response is anger and outrage, as I suspect it is for virtually everyone who shares my view [of] abortion..." (3). Organizations that favor legalized therapeutic abortion further spread the thought that pro-lifers are violent in their numerous articles regarding this without ever mentioning any violence from those that support their view; examples of these organizations include the National Abortion Federation, and Planned Parenthood (4, 5).
Pro-Abortion Violence?
The anti-abortion side of the debate has often answered by both refuting much of the claims of violence and/or accusing the other side of just as much or more violence committed. One such example is of Human Life International's website ProChoiceViolence.com in which they show a "documented more than 8,519 acts of violence and illegal activities by pro-abortionists" (6). Another example of a pro-life organization accusing the other side of violence is of the American Life League (ALL) in their story "Pro-Abortion Violence on Rise After Media Build Up, ALL Reports" (7). My conclusion is that violence is coming from both sides of the debate.
My experience with abortion-related violence has been quite plentiful although I have not protested often. I have only experienced violence from those opposing my pro-life viewpoint. When I protested with fellow protesters near a beach in Southern California there were people cussing in my face as they walked by and others who were throwing things at me as they drove by. When I protested at an abortion clinic in the Inland Empire, CA there were people cussing at me as they stopped at the nearest traffic light. When I had a bumper sticker that read "Abortion is Murder" I had at least one instance a month of people driving next to me and yelling profanities at me and even wishing that I was dead. When I protested at another abortion clinic in Downtown Riverside, CA there was a driver of biomedical-waste who said that he wanted to beat me up.
Most recently, I have been debating the abortion topic with a blogger named OperationCounterStrike. Through this persons profile this individual says that I am a murderer because of what I believe: "ALL right-to-lifers are murderers." (8) Furthermore, this person has called for the death of Phill Kline, Eric Rucker, and a blogger named Rick (8a, 8b). I'm sure that there are other instances of this individual encouraging violence (the same violence this person supposedly condemns).
Violence is from Both Sides?
What is true in reality is that there are numerous examples of those from both sides of the debate committing violence. What is important in this debate? Condemn any form of violence from anyone no matter what is their belief. As an aside, it is also important to condemn the restriction of the right to peaceful free speech and assembly.
Violence in unacceptable. The way to change the hearts and minds in this country is through peaceful protest. This is the way that I have protested. Further, I encourage everyone to know the facts of the abortion debate rather than to be following strictly the emotional aspect! I also encourage everyone to share their views peacefully and fully in as many ways as possible. A national dialog about the facts of abortion is very long overdue. The truth is that the most violent thing that is happening today is the death of innocent unborn children.
(1) Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance (religioustolerance.org) as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(2) Department of Homeland Security, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," published April 7, 2009. PDF DOWNLOAD
(3) Colb, Sherry, "Abortion Clinic Violence: Is Pro-Life Murder an Oxymoron?" published on January 9, 2008 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(4) National Abortion Federation, "Anti-Abortion Violence" as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(5) Planned Parenthood, "Creating Healthy Responses to Hatred and Violence" as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(6) Human Life International, ProChoiceViolence.com Home Page as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(7) Walker, Katie, "Pro-Abortion Violence on Rise After Media Build Up, ALL Reports" published on July 2, 2009 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(8) OperationCounterStrike, Profile as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(8a) OperationCounterStrike, "Don't investigate him; kill him" published on September 23, 2009 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(8b) OperationCounterStrike, "Euthanise this geezer" published on September 1, 2009 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Nursing and Abortion: Compatible?
I am currently a new graduate from Registered Nursing school. Nursing is considered one of the most compassionate careers to be a part of. Why? The reason is because nurses have great opportunities to heal and help patients physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Indeed, the nursing profession is consistently one of the highest respected professions in the United States (1).
Since many nurses do indeed assist in therapeutic/elective abortions throughout the United States, it is arguable whether the current nursing establishment would have anything against the practice. However, what is the intention of the profession? How does the foundation of nursing, which nurses continue to be encouraged to follow, relate to the topic of abortion? If there is any indication of what the framework of nursing is look no further than the Florence Nightingale Pledge. This pledge was written 1893 by Lystra Gretter in honor of Florence Nightingale and is considered to be a modification from the Hippocratic Oath that physicians recite, although their oath has been modified throughout the years.
The Florence Nightingale Pledge is what I recited at my graduation ceremony from vocational nursing school (the nursing pledge from registered nursing school was altered somewhat). What does this pledge mean to me and the nursing profession as a whole in relation to therapeutic/elective abortion? Should nurses be involved in therapeutic/elective abortion?
It is the responsibility of the nurse to not do anything harmful to patients. Who are patients? A patient is any "individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment" (3). Then, reason asks, who is an individual or human being? For many in the abortion debate, this has been a perplexing question. If highly subjective opinions were not considered then the word individual would include everyone from the moment of conception (refer to Abort73.com's article regarding the zygote).
Since "no harmful drug" can be administered knowingly then it matters if the unborn is a human being or individual. Since the word "individual" includes the zygote, embryo, and fetus then no drug should ever be administered that purposely kills these individuals. In today's practice, nurses do administer or aid in the administration of medications and agents that harm and, ultimately, kill the unborn individual.
Some surgical abortion procedures require administration of specific medications or fluids. Prostaglandin labor induction abortions (past 20 weeks gestation) can include the use of oxytocin, misoprostol, dinoprostone, among others (4)(5a). Saline abortion (past 20 weeks gestation, although today this form of abortion is rare) involves the use of injecting a fluid highly concentrated in sodium chloride into the amniotic sac thus killing the unborn individual (5a). Another method of later term abortion is "intra-amniotic or intrafetal digitalis" (a medication which can indeed be lethal to adults as well) (5b)(6). Mifepristone (RU-486), and methotrexate in combination with misoprostol are ways to accomplish a medical abortion (which is suggested to work "up to day 49 of pregnancy and regimens up to day 63 are effective as well") (5a).
The standard of the profession is caring for ALL patients. Aiding the physician does not mean to do anything that the physician tells you to do. The care of patients come first and foremost. The unborn have consistently been considered patients in the medical field. "...fetal patients may well be considered the 'best' patients by medical workers" as written by Monica Casper in the book The Making of the Unborn Patient (7). In the past, the unborn have undeniably been considered patients by the medical establishment.
Thus, since it is established that the individual is a defined as a separate creature from other individuals, the unborn is certainly classified as one. Furthermore, nurses have an obligation to protect all patients, who are all individuals, from harm; this includes the unborn. The conclusion is that the unborn patient should not be harmed. Rather, the unborn patient should be aided so that he can be born and live a long and as prosperous of a life as possible. The same and equal consideration should be made to the mothers of these unborn patients. Indeed, both are patients and both must be showed love, compassion, and care that is necessary to be a true nurse. God is my witness; that is my goal as a nurse.
Thus, nursing and therapeutic/elective abortion are incompatible with each other.
(1) Brandon E., "The Most (and Least) Prestigious Careers" published on August 2, 2007 by U.S. News and World Report. URL LINK
(2) American Nurses Association, accessed on December 24, 2009 by Nursing World. URL LINK
(3) Marriam-Webster Online Dictionary, accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(4) Goldberg, A, & Wing, D. "Induction of Labor: The Misoprostol Controversy" from J Midwifery Womens Health in 2003 as accessed on Medscape Today on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(5a) Trupin, S. "Elective Abortion" from eMedicine, last updated on December 22, 2008 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(5b) Trupin, S. "Elective Abortion: Treatment and Medication" from eMedicine, last updated on December 22, 2008 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(6) Aggrawal, A. "Death by Digitalis" from The Poison Sleuths August 1999 issue as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(7) Casper, M. The Making of the Unborn Patient: A Social Anatomy of Fetal Surgery, copyright 1998 published by Rutgers University Press. URL LINK
Since many nurses do indeed assist in therapeutic/elective abortions throughout the United States, it is arguable whether the current nursing establishment would have anything against the practice. However, what is the intention of the profession? How does the foundation of nursing, which nurses continue to be encouraged to follow, relate to the topic of abortion? If there is any indication of what the framework of nursing is look no further than the Florence Nightingale Pledge. This pledge was written 1893 by Lystra Gretter in honor of Florence Nightingale and is considered to be a modification from the Hippocratic Oath that physicians recite, although their oath has been modified throughout the years.
The Florence Nightingale Pledge is what I recited at my graduation ceremony from vocational nursing school (the nursing pledge from registered nursing school was altered somewhat). What does this pledge mean to me and the nursing profession as a whole in relation to therapeutic/elective abortion? Should nurses be involved in therapeutic/elective abortion?
I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug (2).
It is the responsibility of the nurse to not do anything harmful to patients. Who are patients? A patient is any "individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment" (3). Then, reason asks, who is an individual or human being? For many in the abortion debate, this has been a perplexing question. If highly subjective opinions were not considered then the word individual would include everyone from the moment of conception (refer to Abort73.com's article regarding the zygote).
Since "no harmful drug" can be administered knowingly then it matters if the unborn is a human being or individual. Since the word "individual" includes the zygote, embryo, and fetus then no drug should ever be administered that purposely kills these individuals. In today's practice, nurses do administer or aid in the administration of medications and agents that harm and, ultimately, kill the unborn individual.
Some surgical abortion procedures require administration of specific medications or fluids. Prostaglandin labor induction abortions (past 20 weeks gestation) can include the use of oxytocin, misoprostol, dinoprostone, among others (4)(5a). Saline abortion (past 20 weeks gestation, although today this form of abortion is rare) involves the use of injecting a fluid highly concentrated in sodium chloride into the amniotic sac thus killing the unborn individual (5a). Another method of later term abortion is "intra-amniotic or intrafetal digitalis" (a medication which can indeed be lethal to adults as well) (5b)(6). Mifepristone (RU-486), and methotrexate in combination with misoprostol are ways to accomplish a medical abortion (which is suggested to work "up to day 49 of pregnancy and regimens up to day 63 are effective as well") (5a).
I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care (2).
The standard of the profession is caring for ALL patients. Aiding the physician does not mean to do anything that the physician tells you to do. The care of patients come first and foremost. The unborn have consistently been considered patients in the medical field. "...fetal patients may well be considered the 'best' patients by medical workers" as written by Monica Casper in the book The Making of the Unborn Patient (7). In the past, the unborn have undeniably been considered patients by the medical establishment.
Thus, since it is established that the individual is a defined as a separate creature from other individuals, the unborn is certainly classified as one. Furthermore, nurses have an obligation to protect all patients, who are all individuals, from harm; this includes the unborn. The conclusion is that the unborn patient should not be harmed. Rather, the unborn patient should be aided so that he can be born and live a long and as prosperous of a life as possible. The same and equal consideration should be made to the mothers of these unborn patients. Indeed, both are patients and both must be showed love, compassion, and care that is necessary to be a true nurse. God is my witness; that is my goal as a nurse.
Thus, nursing and therapeutic/elective abortion are incompatible with each other.
Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, it requires an exclusive devotion as hard a preparation, as any painter's or sculptor's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, compared with having to do with the living body, the temple of God's spirit? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said, the finest of Fine Arts." --Florence Nightingale.
(1) Brandon E., "The Most (and Least) Prestigious Careers" published on August 2, 2007 by U.S. News and World Report. URL LINK
(2) American Nurses Association, accessed on December 24, 2009 by Nursing World. URL LINK
(3) Marriam-Webster Online Dictionary, accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(4) Goldberg, A, & Wing, D. "Induction of Labor: The Misoprostol Controversy" from J Midwifery Womens Health in 2003 as accessed on Medscape Today on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(5a) Trupin, S. "Elective Abortion" from eMedicine, last updated on December 22, 2008 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(5b) Trupin, S. "Elective Abortion: Treatment and Medication" from eMedicine, last updated on December 22, 2008 as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(6) Aggrawal, A. "Death by Digitalis" from The Poison Sleuths August 1999 issue as accessed on December 24, 2009. URL LINK
(7) Casper, M. The Making of the Unborn Patient: A Social Anatomy of Fetal Surgery, copyright 1998 published by Rutgers University Press. URL LINK
Friday, October 16, 2009
Incompetent cervix linked with abortion
It has long been known that two or more first trimester abortions or one second to third trimester abortion greatly increased the risk to incompetent cervix. This link has been reinforced through my nursing education and in my own small amount of research into the topic online.
What is incompetent cervix?
Sometimes the neck of the uterus, called the cervix, can be weak during pregnancy. If the cervix is too weak and becomes too thin, the pregnancy leads to a miscarriage after the 12th or 14th week. (1) However, incompetent cervix is not the sole cause of pre-term labor and it is also not something that is easily diagnosed. One treatment that sometimes is offered is cervical cerclage, a procedure in which a medical doctor sutures the cervix to help prevent miscarriage. (1)(2) Many people who are diagnosed with incompetent service are told to be on complete bed-rest (to reduce weight on the uterus and cervix) and to abstain from sexual intercourse (which can disturb the weakened cervix) among other recommendations. (1)
What leads to incompetent cervix?
The risk factors to developing the condition of incompetent cervix does not always include therapeutic abortion. However, many do. Some include surgical procedures that are also used to accomplish abortions such as dilation and curettage (D&C). The Australian medical journal O&G had an article stating the risk factors to be congenital, acquired, and/or clinical. Congenital risk factors included "biological variation, collagen disorders, Ehlors Danlos syndrome, congenital uterine anomaly, and in utero diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure." (1) DES is "a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen that was used to prevent miscarriage and other pregnancy complications between 1938 and 1971 in the United States." (3) Acquired risk factors included "cervical lacerations or injury post vaginal or caesarean delivery, prolonged second
stage, surgical procedures [such as] D&C [and] excisional biopsy." (1) Clinical risk factors were listed as presenting signs and symptoms to help physicians consider a possible diagnosis of incompetent cervix.
The part that I want to focus on is the "acquired" risk factors of incompetent cervix. Some risk factors in this category may have been avoidable risk factors. Cervical lacerations can occur during an induced surgical abortion and is oftentimes considered a "side effect" of even the earliest abortions (4). Procedures that must go through the cervix include a D&C. Dilation is often accomplished through hard metal rods and curettage is accomplish through large metal tools which can directly injure the cervix and even the uterus. It is known that "cervical trauma may occur and may lead to incompetent cervix," a statement that my education has repeatedly confirmed (8).
So the cervix is injured in an abortion?
Illustration of the cervix, tools are used to stabilize and dilate it.
Tenaculum is used to stabilize the cervix by grasping it on the side during a surgical abortion.
Hagar dilators commonly used to forcibly dilate the cervix during a surgical abortion. Even if laminaria (osmotic dilators) are used prior to the surgery, these kinds of dilators will still be used.
A curette. This is used for D&C associated and not associated with surgical abortions.
Abortion Procedure In-Progress
Link shows an actual abortion procedure and it's trauma to the cervix and pieces of the mutilated unborn human being. You have been warned, the pictures are very graphic.
What's the big deal?
All of this information is culminated in the following quote from eMedicine: "The most common etiologies for cervical injury are elective abortion, surgeries to treat cervical dysplasia, and injury occurring at delivery." (2) This means that more children are being born prematurely directly due to the practice of surgical abortion. Not even using non-mechanical means to dilate the cervix in a surgical abortion fully mitigates this risk. (2)
How many people have an increased risk due to abortion?
Think about the numbers. The most recent numbers regarding the amount of yearly surgical abortions in this country come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The caveat, however, is that California, New Hampshire, Louisiana, the District of Columbia (DC), and New York City (NYC) do not report any abortion statistics to the CDC which dramatically lowers the total numbers of abortions in the United States. According to the CDC, there were 820,151 legal induced surgical abortions that occurred in the United States in 2005 (the number is probably over 1 million due to the exclusion of the states aforementioned). Thus, over 800,000 women are at higher risk of having incompetent cervix in the future.
Yet people get cervical lacerations from childbirth?
Yes, this is true. However, the number of people that experience true cervical injury during childbirth is very small. According the American Journal of Obstetrics, only 0.16% of vaginal childbirths resulted in any cervical lacerations. (7) Keep in mind that the cervix naturally prepares for childbirth through a long process during pregnancy and during the labor and delivery process. Induced abortion, however, is sudden and unnatural. Many people confuse cervical lacerations with vaginal lacerations during childbirth. The difference is real since it is the cervix which helps keep a woman in the pregnant state while the vagina is much more related to the actual birthing process as the birth canal.
How come I never hear about this?
I believe the reason is political. I can only pray for March of Dimes to declare the suggestion to "have fewer or no abortions to decrease the risk for pre-term labor in relation to the increased risk of incompetent cervix." I doubt that they will step into the political fray no matter how true a statement that is. I really do want people to stop thinking of abortion in terms of political correctness.
Let us pray for the women who are at risk for incompetent cervix that they may have the strength and courage to bear children. Let us pray for the unborn children whose mothers have incompetent cervix that they may be born alive and healthy. Let us also pray for health care workers to have the ability, knowledge, and willingness to care for the women and unborn children affected by incompetent cervix the best that they can.
Follow the sources that I have listed (one is extra) for further information. Of course, I do have some pro-life bias. Research all of this stuff on your own to form your own conclusion. Remember to follow the truth, always.
(1) Lo, Chern. O&G Magazine. "The incompetent cervix." Winter 2009. PDF
(2) Ross, Michael. eMedicine. "Preterm labor." Jul 31 2009. HTML
(3) Schrager, Arina and Potter, Beth. American Family Physician. "Diethylstilbestrol exposure." May 15 2004. HTML
(4) State of Alaska Health and Human Services. "Making a decision about you pregnancy: about abortion methods." Accessed on October 15 2009. HTML
(5) Centers for Disease Control. "Abortion surveillance." November 14, 2008. HTML
(6) Pregnancy-Facts.com. "Incompetent cervix and pregnancy." morefocus group. HTML
(7) Melamed, Ben-Haroush, Chen, Kaplan, Yogev. "Intrapartum cervical lacerations: characteristics, risk factors, and effects on subsequent pregnancies." April 2009. HTML
(8) Langerquist SL, McMillin JL, Nelson RM, Snider KE, Davis' NCLEX-RN Success: Second Edition, F.A. Davis, 2006, Philadelphia.
What is incompetent cervix?
Sometimes the neck of the uterus, called the cervix, can be weak during pregnancy. If the cervix is too weak and becomes too thin, the pregnancy leads to a miscarriage after the 12th or 14th week. (1) However, incompetent cervix is not the sole cause of pre-term labor and it is also not something that is easily diagnosed. One treatment that sometimes is offered is cervical cerclage, a procedure in which a medical doctor sutures the cervix to help prevent miscarriage. (1)(2) Many people who are diagnosed with incompetent service are told to be on complete bed-rest (to reduce weight on the uterus and cervix) and to abstain from sexual intercourse (which can disturb the weakened cervix) among other recommendations. (1)
What leads to incompetent cervix?
The risk factors to developing the condition of incompetent cervix does not always include therapeutic abortion. However, many do. Some include surgical procedures that are also used to accomplish abortions such as dilation and curettage (D&C). The Australian medical journal O&G had an article stating the risk factors to be congenital, acquired, and/or clinical. Congenital risk factors included "biological variation, collagen disorders, Ehlors Danlos syndrome, congenital uterine anomaly, and in utero diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure." (1) DES is "a synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen that was used to prevent miscarriage and other pregnancy complications between 1938 and 1971 in the United States." (3) Acquired risk factors included "cervical lacerations or injury post vaginal or caesarean delivery, prolonged second
stage, surgical procedures [such as] D&C [and] excisional biopsy." (1) Clinical risk factors were listed as presenting signs and symptoms to help physicians consider a possible diagnosis of incompetent cervix.
The part that I want to focus on is the "acquired" risk factors of incompetent cervix. Some risk factors in this category may have been avoidable risk factors. Cervical lacerations can occur during an induced surgical abortion and is oftentimes considered a "side effect" of even the earliest abortions (4). Procedures that must go through the cervix include a D&C. Dilation is often accomplished through hard metal rods and curettage is accomplish through large metal tools which can directly injure the cervix and even the uterus. It is known that "cervical trauma may occur and may lead to incompetent cervix," a statement that my education has repeatedly confirmed (8).
So the cervix is injured in an abortion?
Illustration of the cervix, tools are used to stabilize and dilate it.
Tenaculum is used to stabilize the cervix by grasping it on the side during a surgical abortion.
Hagar dilators commonly used to forcibly dilate the cervix during a surgical abortion. Even if laminaria (osmotic dilators) are used prior to the surgery, these kinds of dilators will still be used.
A curette. This is used for D&C associated and not associated with surgical abortions.
Abortion Procedure In-Progress
Link shows an actual abortion procedure and it's trauma to the cervix and pieces of the mutilated unborn human being. You have been warned, the pictures are very graphic.
What's the big deal?
All of this information is culminated in the following quote from eMedicine: "The most common etiologies for cervical injury are elective abortion, surgeries to treat cervical dysplasia, and injury occurring at delivery." (2) This means that more children are being born prematurely directly due to the practice of surgical abortion. Not even using non-mechanical means to dilate the cervix in a surgical abortion fully mitigates this risk. (2)
How many people have an increased risk due to abortion?
Think about the numbers. The most recent numbers regarding the amount of yearly surgical abortions in this country come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The caveat, however, is that California, New Hampshire, Louisiana, the District of Columbia (DC), and New York City (NYC) do not report any abortion statistics to the CDC which dramatically lowers the total numbers of abortions in the United States. According to the CDC, there were 820,151 legal induced surgical abortions that occurred in the United States in 2005 (the number is probably over 1 million due to the exclusion of the states aforementioned). Thus, over 800,000 women are at higher risk of having incompetent cervix in the future.
Yet people get cervical lacerations from childbirth?
Yes, this is true. However, the number of people that experience true cervical injury during childbirth is very small. According the American Journal of Obstetrics, only 0.16% of vaginal childbirths resulted in any cervical lacerations. (7) Keep in mind that the cervix naturally prepares for childbirth through a long process during pregnancy and during the labor and delivery process. Induced abortion, however, is sudden and unnatural. Many people confuse cervical lacerations with vaginal lacerations during childbirth. The difference is real since it is the cervix which helps keep a woman in the pregnant state while the vagina is much more related to the actual birthing process as the birth canal.
How come I never hear about this?
I believe the reason is political. I can only pray for March of Dimes to declare the suggestion to "have fewer or no abortions to decrease the risk for pre-term labor in relation to the increased risk of incompetent cervix." I doubt that they will step into the political fray no matter how true a statement that is. I really do want people to stop thinking of abortion in terms of political correctness.
Let us pray for the women who are at risk for incompetent cervix that they may have the strength and courage to bear children. Let us pray for the unborn children whose mothers have incompetent cervix that they may be born alive and healthy. Let us also pray for health care workers to have the ability, knowledge, and willingness to care for the women and unborn children affected by incompetent cervix the best that they can.
Follow the sources that I have listed (one is extra) for further information. Of course, I do have some pro-life bias. Research all of this stuff on your own to form your own conclusion. Remember to follow the truth, always.
(1) Lo, Chern. O&G Magazine. "The incompetent cervix." Winter 2009. PDF
(2) Ross, Michael. eMedicine. "Preterm labor." Jul 31 2009. HTML
(3) Schrager, Arina and Potter, Beth. American Family Physician. "Diethylstilbestrol exposure." May 15 2004. HTML
(4) State of Alaska Health and Human Services. "Making a decision about you pregnancy: about abortion methods." Accessed on October 15 2009. HTML
(5) Centers for Disease Control. "Abortion surveillance." November 14, 2008. HTML
(6) Pregnancy-Facts.com. "Incompetent cervix and pregnancy." morefocus group. HTML
(7) Melamed, Ben-Haroush, Chen, Kaplan, Yogev. "Intrapartum cervical lacerations: characteristics, risk factors, and effects on subsequent pregnancies." April 2009. HTML
(8) Langerquist SL, McMillin JL, Nelson RM, Snider KE, Davis' NCLEX-RN Success: Second Edition, F.A. Davis, 2006, Philadelphia.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Is deceit part of the pro-life mantra?
A user at RH Reality Check wrote, "...deceit is part of the pro-life [mode of operation]." (1) Are those who are against abortion purposely deceiving others? This is hard to believe. Others may contend that those who are against abortion deceive others based upon their own misconceptions. This is a fact that is a lot easier to believe; it is specifically those who are in favor of legalized therapeutic abortions that believe this slant of the opinion.
What is my own opinion on the matter? You may think that you know; actually, you do not know.
Can I write a sentence or two? Maybe I can write something like the following: deceit is part of the pro-choice mode of operation. Would I be more wrong than the user at RH Reality Check? Could it be said that those in favor of abortion purposely deceive others? This is certainly hard to believe. It may be easier to believe that those who are in favor of abortion deceive others based upon their own misconceptions. This is a fact that is a lot easier to believe.
So what is my own opinion on the matter? Those from both sides of the abortion debate inadvertently deceive other people based upon their own misconceptions!
It is hard to distinguish between the truth and lies. It is even harder to distinguish this in today's age of information. Numerous people are giving information in one way and then another person is giving information in another way. It is all given in a certain slant. The information on this blog is, of course, swayed a little by my own bias.
What do I suggest? Be skeptical whenever anyone ever tries to "prove" something to you! Do your own research! Find out the facts in as objective a way that you can! Then, apply your deepest morals and theology to those facts once those facts have been determined.
What facts have I determined to be true? The core of these facts are as follows:
1. Human life begins at conception (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Wow... that's a lot of core facts!!! So, where exactly is all of the deception that both sides can commit? I did mention about applying morals to the facts, right? What are the morals? They are as follows:
1. No one should purposely kill a human being (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)
Shazaam! That's a lot of deep morals and theology! And, is it in this deeply held moral and theological standard where much of the deceit comes from? No, it does not come from here. It is easy now to see where all of this deceit comes from. The deceit comes from the muddy battle grounds when arguing the validity of fact and the importance of morality.
My suggestion to both those for and against legalized abortion? Be true to what is true. Don't worry about what others think. Don't be concerned that others feel that you are "deceptive." Also, don't be concerned that others are being "deceptive," rather, look through what people say to determine reality. Do what is right.
Thus, is deceit part of the pro-life or pro-choice mantra? Who really knows? Who really cares? It is wrong if someone is deceitful but that is their own prerogative. It doesn't matter. Find the truth, wherever it may be, and follow it. All that is really required is that you not participate in deceit; follow the truth and you have the ability to change history.
"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." (1 Peter 2:1)
1. The "Pro-Life" Movement's Hot Rhetoric and All-Out Lies as found on RH Reality Check accessed on July 3, 2009.
2. "The resulting single cell [from fertilization] is now referred to as the zygote." Klossner, N and Hatfield, Nancy. Introductory Maternity and Pediatric Nursing. Page 107. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2006.
3. "Development begins with fertilization, the process by which the male gamete, the sperm, and the femal gamete, the oocyte, unite to give rise to a zygote." Sadler, Langman, and Leland. Langman's Medical Embryology. Page 37. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2006.
4. "A zygote is the beginning of a new human being (i.e., an embryo)." Keith L. Moore, The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2003. pp. 16, 2.
5. "Although life is a continuous process, fertilization (which, incidentally, is not a 'moment') is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new genetically distinct human organism is formed when the chromosomes of the male and female pronuclei blend in the oocyte." Ronan O'Rahilly and Fabiola Müller, Human Embryology and Teratology, 3rd edition. New York: Wiley-Liss, 2001. p. 8.
6. "Human embryos begin development following the fusion of definitive male and female gametes during fertilization... This moment of zygote formation may be taken as the beginning or zero time point of embryonic development." William J. Larsen, Essentials of Human Embryology. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1998. pp. 1, 14.
7. "Thou shall not murder." The Holy Bible. The Old Testament. Exodus 20:13.
8. "The deliberate murder of a innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being." Catechism of the Catholic Church. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Inc, 1997. pp. 602-603
9. "From the earliest times, Hindu tradition and scriptures condemn the practice, except when the mother's life is in danger." Hinduism's Online Lexicon URL LINK **Must input "abortion" in search box. 2006 Himalayan Academy. Accessed on June 3, 2009.
10. "Abortion for any purpose other than saving the life of the mother is not permitted." Jacob Neusner, Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period, p.226. June 1999.
11. "Buddhism believes in rebirth and teaches that individual human life begins at conception. The new being, bearing the karmic identity of a recently deceased individual, is therefore as entitled to the same moral respect as an adult human being." Damien Keown, Science and Theology News, April 2004. As retrieved from BBC - Religion and Ethics, "Buddhism and Abortion." URL LINK
What is my own opinion on the matter? You may think that you know; actually, you do not know.
Can I write a sentence or two? Maybe I can write something like the following: deceit is part of the pro-choice mode of operation. Would I be more wrong than the user at RH Reality Check? Could it be said that those in favor of abortion purposely deceive others? This is certainly hard to believe. It may be easier to believe that those who are in favor of abortion deceive others based upon their own misconceptions. This is a fact that is a lot easier to believe.
So what is my own opinion on the matter? Those from both sides of the abortion debate inadvertently deceive other people based upon their own misconceptions!
It is hard to distinguish between the truth and lies. It is even harder to distinguish this in today's age of information. Numerous people are giving information in one way and then another person is giving information in another way. It is all given in a certain slant. The information on this blog is, of course, swayed a little by my own bias.
What do I suggest? Be skeptical whenever anyone ever tries to "prove" something to you! Do your own research! Find out the facts in as objective a way that you can! Then, apply your deepest morals and theology to those facts once those facts have been determined.
What facts have I determined to be true? The core of these facts are as follows:
1. Human life begins at conception (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Wow... that's a lot of core facts!!! So, where exactly is all of the deception that both sides can commit? I did mention about applying morals to the facts, right? What are the morals? They are as follows:
1. No one should purposely kill a human being (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)
Shazaam! That's a lot of deep morals and theology! And, is it in this deeply held moral and theological standard where much of the deceit comes from? No, it does not come from here. It is easy now to see where all of this deceit comes from. The deceit comes from the muddy battle grounds when arguing the validity of fact and the importance of morality.
My suggestion to both those for and against legalized abortion? Be true to what is true. Don't worry about what others think. Don't be concerned that others feel that you are "deceptive." Also, don't be concerned that others are being "deceptive," rather, look through what people say to determine reality. Do what is right.
Thus, is deceit part of the pro-life or pro-choice mantra? Who really knows? Who really cares? It is wrong if someone is deceitful but that is their own prerogative. It doesn't matter. Find the truth, wherever it may be, and follow it. All that is really required is that you not participate in deceit; follow the truth and you have the ability to change history.
"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." (1 Peter 2:1)
1. The "Pro-Life" Movement's Hot Rhetoric and All-Out Lies as found on RH Reality Check accessed on July 3, 2009.
2. "The resulting single cell [from fertilization] is now referred to as the zygote." Klossner, N and Hatfield, Nancy. Introductory Maternity and Pediatric Nursing. Page 107. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2006.
3. "Development begins with fertilization, the process by which the male gamete, the sperm, and the femal gamete, the oocyte, unite to give rise to a zygote." Sadler, Langman, and Leland. Langman's Medical Embryology. Page 37. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2006.
4. "A zygote is the beginning of a new human being (i.e., an embryo)." Keith L. Moore, The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 7th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, 2003. pp. 16, 2.
5. "Although life is a continuous process, fertilization (which, incidentally, is not a 'moment') is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new genetically distinct human organism is formed when the chromosomes of the male and female pronuclei blend in the oocyte." Ronan O'Rahilly and Fabiola Müller, Human Embryology and Teratology, 3rd edition. New York: Wiley-Liss, 2001. p. 8.
6. "Human embryos begin development following the fusion of definitive male and female gametes during fertilization... This moment of zygote formation may be taken as the beginning or zero time point of embryonic development." William J. Larsen, Essentials of Human Embryology. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1998. pp. 1, 14.
7. "Thou shall not murder." The Holy Bible. The Old Testament. Exodus 20:13.
8. "The deliberate murder of a innocent person is gravely contrary to the dignity of the human being." Catechism of the Catholic Church. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Inc, 1997. pp. 602-603
9. "From the earliest times, Hindu tradition and scriptures condemn the practice, except when the mother's life is in danger." Hinduism's Online Lexicon URL LINK **Must input "abortion" in search box. 2006 Himalayan Academy. Accessed on June 3, 2009.
10. "Abortion for any purpose other than saving the life of the mother is not permitted." Jacob Neusner, Dictionary of Judaism in the Biblical Period, p.226. June 1999.
11. "Buddhism believes in rebirth and teaches that individual human life begins at conception. The new being, bearing the karmic identity of a recently deceased individual, is therefore as entitled to the same moral respect as an adult human being." Damien Keown, Science and Theology News, April 2004. As retrieved from BBC - Religion and Ethics, "Buddhism and Abortion." URL LINK
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Does a low percentage help you feel better?
How many of those who support the legal "right" to abortion understand that abortions can be done past 21 weeks of gestation? Many people that I talk to do not know this. Most are ignorant of this fact. Then, if one is not ignorant of this fact he says "only 1% of all abortions are done past 21 weeks!"
What, then, is 1% of all abortions in the United States of America? Let's see... I was just looking at a journal article from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology which cited that "in 1999, 9,643 abortions were performed at [greater than or equal to] 21 weeks’ gestation, representing only 1.5% of total abortions reported"(1)(2).
Fetus at 22 weeks gestational age(3)
At 20 weeks gestational age the fetal "nervous system is starting to function; [the fetus] can suck a thumb, yawn, stretch, and make faces"(4). Furthermore, many studies suggest that the unborn fetus can now experience pain: "new evidence...has persuaded [Dr. Kanwaljeet "Sunny" Anand] that fetuses can feel pain by 20 weeks gestation and possibly earlier"(5).
10,000 abortions for therapeutic reasons a year and hardly a peep of outrage from the public. Do the research for yourself and understand the horror that abortion really is. Maybe people will just continue to hide behind the idea that 1% is such a small percentage...
1. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, (2004) Volume 190, pages 1180-3 PDF FILE
2. Elam-Evans LD, Strauss LT, Herndon J, Parker WY, Whitehead S, Berg CJ. Abortion surveillancedUnited States, 1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2002;51:1-28
3. Retrieved from "A Woman's Right to Know" on 5/28/2009 URL LINK Photograph by Lennart Nilsson URL LINK
4. WebMD, Fetal Development Timeline, reviewed by Matthew Hoffman, MD, URL LINK
5. New York Times Magazine, Fetal Pain, written by Annie Paul, Feb. 2008, URL LINK
What, then, is 1% of all abortions in the United States of America? Let's see... I was just looking at a journal article from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology which cited that "in 1999, 9,643 abortions were performed at [greater than or equal to] 21 weeks’ gestation, representing only 1.5% of total abortions reported"(1)(2).
Fetus at 22 weeks gestational age(3)
At 20 weeks gestational age the fetal "nervous system is starting to function; [the fetus] can suck a thumb, yawn, stretch, and make faces"(4). Furthermore, many studies suggest that the unborn fetus can now experience pain: "new evidence...has persuaded [Dr. Kanwaljeet "Sunny" Anand] that fetuses can feel pain by 20 weeks gestation and possibly earlier"(5).
10,000 abortions for therapeutic reasons a year and hardly a peep of outrage from the public. Do the research for yourself and understand the horror that abortion really is. Maybe people will just continue to hide behind the idea that 1% is such a small percentage...
1. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, (2004) Volume 190, pages 1180-3 PDF FILE
2. Elam-Evans LD, Strauss LT, Herndon J, Parker WY, Whitehead S, Berg CJ. Abortion surveillancedUnited States, 1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2002;51:1-28
3. Retrieved from "A Woman's Right to Know" on 5/28/2009 URL LINK Photograph by Lennart Nilsson URL LINK
4. WebMD, Fetal Development Timeline, reviewed by Matthew Hoffman, MD, URL LINK
5. New York Times Magazine, Fetal Pain, written by Annie Paul, Feb. 2008, URL LINK
Sunday, April 26, 2009
When did Life Become Expendable?
For many people that see abortion as the killing of a human baby, it may be hard to realize that there have been many other massacres in the history of mankind. We humans are all imperfect; we humans are all sinners. What are we capable of doing?
The Romans around 2,000 years ago persecuted Christians in brutal and disgusting ways (1). Today, over 50,000 people have died in Sudan due to the conflict between Arab militias and and Africans in western Sudan (2). There have been atrocities in the past and there are still atrocities in our current world. Has it always been this way?
Abortion, as a means to end an "unwanted" child's life, has been a part of society for a very long time. Throughout man's history, abortion has sometimes been accepted and, at many other times, shunned. Sometimes there are just people who view abortion as a means to achieve their goal. The following is a quote from an average citizen back in 1930, "for those who cannot be educated, sterilization or legalized abortion seems to be the only remedy, for we certainly do not want such stupid people to pollute the race with stupid offspring. The defective conditions of life call urgently for improvement" (3). Unfortunately, this kind of mindset will always be around in some people.
There will always be those who wish harm to come of others for their own self benefit. Being pro-life is about overcoming those who wish to kill innocent human beings. We must be called to action and let others know that abortion is unacceptable. Human life has been expendable in various times throughout history. We can stop life from being expendable; life can only become expendable if we allow it to be.
1. Manzullo, N. (2000, February 8). The roman persecution of Christians. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://patriot.net/~carey/afa/latinclub/persecution.htm
2. O'Keefe, E., & Marcus, J. (2004, September 9). Crisis in Sudan. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from Washington Post Web site: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20765-2004Jul1.html
3. Norman Haire, letter to the editor, Birth Control Review, (July, 1930) ... as viewed on Wikiquote on April 26, 2009 Web site: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Abortion
The Romans around 2,000 years ago persecuted Christians in brutal and disgusting ways (1). Today, over 50,000 people have died in Sudan due to the conflict between Arab militias and and Africans in western Sudan (2). There have been atrocities in the past and there are still atrocities in our current world. Has it always been this way?
Abortion, as a means to end an "unwanted" child's life, has been a part of society for a very long time. Throughout man's history, abortion has sometimes been accepted and, at many other times, shunned. Sometimes there are just people who view abortion as a means to achieve their goal. The following is a quote from an average citizen back in 1930, "for those who cannot be educated, sterilization or legalized abortion seems to be the only remedy, for we certainly do not want such stupid people to pollute the race with stupid offspring. The defective conditions of life call urgently for improvement" (3). Unfortunately, this kind of mindset will always be around in some people.
There will always be those who wish harm to come of others for their own self benefit. Being pro-life is about overcoming those who wish to kill innocent human beings. We must be called to action and let others know that abortion is unacceptable. Human life has been expendable in various times throughout history. We can stop life from being expendable; life can only become expendable if we allow it to be.
1. Manzullo, N. (2000, February 8). The roman persecution of Christians. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://patriot.net/~carey/afa/latinclub/persecution.htm
2. O'Keefe, E., & Marcus, J. (2004, September 9). Crisis in Sudan. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from Washington Post Web site: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20765-2004Jul1.html
3. Norman Haire, letter to the editor, Birth Control Review, (July, 1930) ... as viewed on Wikiquote on April 26, 2009 Web site: http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Abortion
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