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Originally Posted by wmbwinn
If the fetus is alive that late in the process, then the abnormalities discovered are not inconsistent with life. You just have a mother that doesn't want a Down's syndrome baby.
The process of a partial birth abortion is a birth that is simply interrupted by intentionally killing the baby. The only "advantage" to the process for the "health" of the mother is that the baby's head is crushed to make it smaller to make passing the Down's syndrome baby's head pass easier.
There is absolutely no good medical excuse for a partial birth abortion. There is just a mother who doesn't want a Down's syndrome baby or a baby with some other abnormality which abnormality is consistent with life...
Besides, if we are talking about the "psychological health of the mother" then how in the heck is psychologically healthy to tell the doctor to do that horrific procedure in the last trimester? How do you live with yourself after that?
Now, before you flame me for that last question, limit the flaming to the topic at hand which is the partial birth abortion in the last trimester of a baby who is viable.
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downs? where do you come up with that? surprising as you say you're in medicine.
the typical D&X procedure is not done due to a down syndrome fetus, as the test done most commonly to determine downs is amniocentesis. amnio is done typically in the second trimester, so terminating the pregnancy at that stage doesn't involve D&X.
the D&X is prevalent when a fetus with hydrocephalus is discovered. a fetus with hydocephalus can have a head enlarged 20x the normal. a woman cannot vaginally deliver that size a baby without damage or death to her. and the fetus doesn't reach consciousness, although it could be "alive".
the american college of obstetricians and gynecoligists said in 1997 that "an intact D&X.... may be the best or most appropriate procedure in a particular circumstance to save the life or preserve the health of a woman, and only the doctor, in consultation with the patient, based upon the woman's particular circumstances can make this decision."
I say let's listen to the doctors who know most about the subject. they clearly disagree strongly with your conclusion.