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Health & Safety Checklist
Our commitment is to
help women considering abortion realize what is in their best
interest. This means helping them avoid being hurt physically and
emotionally, or helping them find solutions to the distressing
circumstances causing them to feel they have “no choice” but abortion.
Having “no choice,” is not a choice. We recommend you not “just get in
and get it over with.” Slow down and think about what’s best for you.
As with all surgery, abortion has inherent dangers that cannot be
eliminated. Therefore, Pregnancy Support Center does not recommend or
refer for abortion. However, our nine-point health and safety
checklist can help protect you against physical and emotional
injuries.
1. Get a blood test
or laboratory quality urine test.
You may not be pregnant
after all. We provide laboratory quality urine test free of charge as
a service to women. Because of the conflict of interest involved, do
not confirm your pregnancy at the abortion center.
Some doctors have had
their licenses revoked for performing unnecessary abortions. Carol
Everett, a former abortion provider, testified in Congress that she
regularly sold abortions to women who were not pregnant but feared
they were. They never knew and her abortion income was enhanced. Make
sure you are tested by someone other than the abortion provider.
2. Do
not allow anyone to sell you an abortion prior to the 8th week of
pregnancy.
Providers will sell you
one but then will not “guarantee success” prior to the eighth week.
The fetus is simply too small to locate. Abortion is already a blind
procedure (by feel and guesswork) and when done prior to the eighth
week, the dangers of internal damage are severe. The suction tube may
perforate your uterus and bowel. More commonly, the abortion is
incomplete; part of the fetus is left behind causing severe infection,
leading to infertility and in some cases, toxic poisoning and death.
Don’t become a victim of someone’s desire to make a quick cash sale.
3. Ask for the name
of the doctor performing the abortion.
Abortion is legal;
malpractice and substandard medical treatment is not. Unless you
insist on knowing the name of the doctor they will not tell you. In
case of injury, the abortionist is relying on your not wanting anyone
to know you were ever at the clinic; they are also counting on your
not knowing whom to hold accountable for the malpractice. In order to
protect your interests in case of injury, know you doctor’s name.
4. Verify that the
doctor is competent and caring by calling the Missouri State Board of
Registration of Healing Arts. The number is 1-573-751-0098.
Abortion providers
routinely fail to inform clients about the risks of abortion. Many
also have quality care problems. You deserve competent treatment, not
substandard care. You may call this number to inquire if there are any
complaints or malpractice suits against the doctor who will be doing
the abortion.
5. Check to see if
the abortion center is a licensed medical clinic.
Abortion providers are
not required by law to be licensed clinics and therefore are not
required to provide the standard of medical care women deserve and
expect. Abortion clinics are the only field of medicine that is
unregulated. Make sure you only go to one that at least meets the
minimum safety standards required for a medical clinic license.
6. Understand that
abortion is surgery, and carries particular health risks.
Ectopic pregnancies:
Studies show that the risk of an ectopic pregnancy is twice as high
for women who have had one abortion, and up to four times as high for
women with two or more abortions. Ectopic pregnancies account for 12%
of pregnancy related maternal deaths.
Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease: (PID) 30% of all women suffer PID following induced abortion.
PID leads to fever and infertility.
Breast Cancer: An
analysis of all reputable studies done to date suggests that women who
abort their first pregnancy in the first trimester face an alarming
50% increase in breast cancer, a rate which doubles with each
successive abortion. (For full documentation, see Abortion: Your Risks
brochure included with this checklist or call our center).
Psychological/emotional
Trauma: 50% of post-abortive women report experiencing emotional and
psychological disturbances lasting for months. This includes acute
feelings of grief, depression, and anger; fear of disclosure,
preoccupation with babies, nightmares, sexual inhibition, termination
of relationships, emotional coldness, increased alcohol use, and
thoughts of suicide. Many go into the clinic thinking, “this is my
only choice!” but come out saying, “what have I done?” Be prepared.
If you are considering
abortion only because of your circumstances, change your
circumstances. Your ambivalence indicates that you have conflicting
feelings. Take time to ask yourself “why” you have these conflicted
feelings. Do not abort your conscience and values. They are what make
you a strong woman. Fight and overcome your circumstances, rather than
submit to them. We will be glad to help you in such a case.
7. Demand your money
back, should you change your mind, even when you’re on the table.
Abortion providers know
that this is an intensely agonizing decision and see women change
their mind at the last minute because, as they say, “I simply can’t
kill my baby, no matter how difficult my circumstances. They may make
you wait a long time hoping once again you will change your mind. Know
your rights. Don’t be pressured.
8. Understand your
legal rights following your abortion.
Some abortion providers
insist that all patients sign a statement saying they will not hold
the clinic or the doctor liable for damages which might occur because
of the abortion. However, this document has virtually no legal
authority. If you are physically or emotionally injured, you always
retain your constitutional right to seek financial compensation in a
court of law, no matter what you signed. Call 1-800-643-2224 for legal
and medical help.
9. Know what
abortion is, and why it is such a difficult and painful decision.
Why so painful? You can
not have a surgical abortion prior to the eighth week (seventh at
best). By this time the fetus is well developed, complete with
fingers, even fingerprints and a fully recognizable body to go with
them. The heart has been beating for over a month; it has an entire
nervous system and can feel pain. The fetus is a separate person with
a different genetic code from yours, probably a different blood type,
and half the time, a penis. The fetus is in your body but not a part
of your body. Make sure you don’t deny yourself this vital
information. You’re not a child who needs to be screened from the
facts; you’re a mother in need of help. We’re dedicated to helping you
make a decision you can live with, whatever the cost! Feel free to
contact us with any need or questions.
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