Partial-Birth Abortions:  A Closer Look
By Douglas Johnson
NRLC Federal Legislative Director

September 11, 1996

Table of Contents

• What is a partial-birth abortion, and what is the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (HR 1833)?
• Aren't "third trimester" abortions rare? At what stage in pregnancy do partial-birth abortions occur? Are these babies "viable"?
• Is the baby alive when she is pulled feet-first from the womb?
• Does anesthesia given to the mother kill the baby?
• Since the baby is still alive when "extracted" from the womb, does she feel pain?
• Does the bill contain an exception for life-of-the-mother cases?
• What reasons has President Clinton given for vetoing HR 1833?
• How often are partial-birth abortions performed?
• For what reasons are late-term abortions usually performed?
• For what reasons are partial-birth abortions usually performed?
  Reasons for partial-birth abortions: Dr. Martin Haskell
  Reasons for partial-birth abortions: Dr. James McMahon
  Reasons for partial-birth abortions: Dr. David Grundmann
• Is a partial-birth abortion ever the only way to preserve a mother's physical health?
• What about President Clinton's statement that for some women, the only alternative to partial-birth abortion is to "rip your body to shreds"?
• What about the small minority of cases that do involve "serious fetal deformity"?
• Is there a more "objective" term for the procedure than "partial-birth abortion"?
• Are the five line drawings circulated by NRLC accurate, or misleading?