The May 20 editorial in favor of health exceptions on House Bill 709 is a typical effort to obscure the facts of what a “health exception” actually means.
The 1973 Doe vs. Bolton decision allowing abortions for reasons of health defined health as “all factors–physical, emotional, psychological, familial and the woman’s age–relevant to the well-being of the patient. All of these factors may relate to health.”
In the 1970s and 1980s in states that allowed exceptions for “health,” more than 90 percent of abortions were done for psychiatric indications.
The cases of “health” mentioned in your editorial are questionable at best, but because abortion is the intentional killing of a child in the womb, removing a dead baby from the womb is not an abortion. The inclusion of “health” in any legislation about abortion is a pro-abortion position, not a pro-life position. Throughout his political career, George Ryan has claimed to be pro-life and has been supported by the pro-life people. This is his chance to prove that he is a man of his word. He should sign HB 709 as is–no “health” exceptions.
