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From: pmd@cbscc.UUCP (Paul Dubuc)
Newsgroups: net.abortion
Subject: Re: My Abortion Views
Message-ID: <3694@cbscc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Sep-84 20:39:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbscc.3694
Posted: Wed Sep 12 20:39:05 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Sep-84 21:13:57 EDT
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Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories <SCCS>, Columbus
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Sophie,

Personal observations aren't enough for you?  Only statistics constitute
factual evidence?  If you read my article again you might see that I made
no attempt to describe the typical woman who gets an abortion.  I mentioned
that three out of four clinics in this city serve the upper-middle and upper
class.  You don't think I'm telling the truth; you want a statistic.  I also
mentioned that a friend of my wife's (actually two) used to work in one of
those abortion clinics.  Their personal observation of a number of people
coming in time after time means nothing?  Where should we get our statistics,
Sophie?  From the clinics?

I am pretty well aware of what a woman goes through in getting an abortion.
I know it isn't trivial or "a barrel of laughs".  Not by any means.  I wish
more people knew the way women are treated in some of these clinics.  For
example, general anesthesia is not normally done (only local) because it adds
as much as $150 to the price of the abortion.  Many women are awake for
the experience (Mr. Wheeler's example probably wasn't if she could brag about
it).  For some it is so traumatic that they can't stand the sound of a
vacuum cleaner after that (Sorry, I don't have a statistic).  Stories of
some of the demeaning an impersonal treatment some of the women get really
sadden me.  The "counselling" they get can seldom be called supportive.
The only abortion I have seen (on film) was done on a woman under general
anesthesia and she still screamed when the suction curette was applied.
No, Sophie, I have no delusions about abortion being a fun experience.

Abortion *is* touted as a form of birth control, Sophie--for the poor.
(In this country some would like our tax money to help foot the bill.)
Also in third world countries.  If you would like a reference look
up the article "Apostle of Abortion" in Science 82, March 1982, page 70.
I posted some excerpts in net.religion a while back.
-- 

Paul Dubuc 		{cbosgd,ihnp4}!cbscc!pmd

  The true light that enlightens every one was coming
  into the world...		(John 1:9)