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Partial
Birth Abortion
The Procedure
"Partial-birth" abortion is performed
in the second and third trimesters and entails (1) inducing a breech delivery with
forceps, (2) delivering the legs, arms and torso only, (3) puncturing the back of the
skull with scissors or a trochar, (4) inserting a suction curette into the skull, (4)
suctioning the contents of the skull so as to collapse it, (5) completing the
delivery. A partial breech delivery is not considered a "birth" at common
law, where it is the passage of the head that is essential.
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With forceps, the doctor turns the baby around in the womb
to be positioned feet first. The baby’s legs are pulled out into the birth canal. The
baby is alive at this point. . |
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The abortionist delivers the
baby’s entire body, except for the head, which remains inside the birth canal. The
baby’s hands and feet move |
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The abortionist stabs the scissors into the base of the
baby’s skull. The scissors are spread to enlarge the opening. The suction catheter is
then inserted and the brains are sucked out, causing the skull to collapse. The head
slides out easily. |
Brenda Pratt Shafer, a registered nurse from Dayton, Ohio, assisted Dr.
Haskell in a Partial Birth Abortion on a 26-1/2 week (over 6 months) pre-born baby boy.
She testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee (on 11/17/95) about what she
witnessed. According to nurse Shafer, the baby was alive and moving as the abortionist
“delivered the baby’s body and arms - everything but the head. The doctor kept
the baby’s head just inside the uterus. The baby’s little fingers were clasping
and unclasping, his feet were kicking. Then the doctor stuck the scissors through the back
of his head, and the baby’s arms jerked out in a flinch, a startle reaction, like a
baby does when he thinks he might fall. The doctor opened up the scissors, stuck a
high-powered suction tube into the opening and sucked the baby’s brains out. Now the
baby was completely limp.”
FAQ's
Procedure
State Laws
Congressional Ban Attempts
Partial Birth Abortion Index Page
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