After Tiller: two ex-abortion doctors speak out
credit: Salon
After Dr. George Tiller’s murder on Pentecost Sunday, much has been written about late-term abortion. Among the many comments are two you might not have run across, both from former abortion doctors, Bernard Nathanson and Mary L. Davenport.
Bernard Nathanson has previously been interviewed by Julia Duin, religion writer for the Washington Times, so in the wake of Dr. Tiller’s murder, she decided to re-interview Dr. Nathanson, a former abortionist who was at the heart of the pro-choice movement in the sixties and seventies:
Soon after late-term abortion doctor George Tiller was killed, I called one of his mentors, Bernard Nathanson. The former Jewish atheist who presided over 75,000 abortions - including that of his own child - in the 1960s and 1970s left the abortion industry upon the advent of ultrasound technology.
His now-classic video “The Silent Scream” shows an unborn child recoiling from a vacuum abortion device before being sucked to its death. He was baptized a Roman Catholic in late 1996, and in an interview with me then, he said he converted because he feared going to hell.
“I have such heavy moral baggage to drag into the next world,” he explained…..
“I knew George Tiller years ago when I was on the pro-abortion side. He came to a course I was giving in the technique of abortion in New York in 1970 under the auspices of NARAL. And I did late-term abortions until I changed my opinion as of 1980.
“My switch to pro-life had nothing to do with religion,” he added. “Tiller was a church-going man, which doesn’t say a whole lot in this country, but one wonders why he never changed his mind based on the scientific evidence. That is where I changed my mind, based on fetoscopies and ultrasound studies.
“Once we had ultrasound in place, we could study the fetus and see it was a member of our community. If you don’t do that, you’re just a creature of political ideology. In 1970, there were approximately 1,100 articles on the functioning of the fetus. By 1990, there were 22,000. The data piled up swiftly and opened a window into the womb…..”
Mary L. Davenport is not so familiar a name, though she is now the president elect of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
A few days ago Dr. Davenport published on the Family Research Council’s website a discourse titled Late-Term Abortions are Never Necessary.
Among her comments:
Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers, shocked the general public in 1997 when he admitted that the vast majority of partial-birth abortions were performed on healthy mothers and babies.5 Contrary to the assertion of abortion rights supporters that late-term abortion is performed for serious reasons, surveys of late abortion patients confirm that the vast majority occur because of delay in diagnosis of pregnancy.6 They are done for similar reasons as early abortions: relationship problems, young or old maternal age, education or financial concerns…..7
Peggy Jarman of the Pro-Choice Action League stated that about three-fourths of Tiller’s late-term patients were teenagers who denied to themselves or their families that they were pregnant until that fact could no longer be obscured…..8
Intentional abortion for maternal health, particularly after viability, is one of the great deceptions used to justify all abortion…..
An unfortunate reality is that the legal burden for the physician is severe if all possible risks of continuing the pregnancy are not communicated to the patient. In the U.S., multi-million dollar court judgments for “wrongful life” are allowed if the patients assert that they would have had an abortion had they known a particular problem might have ensued. It is impossible to foresee and enumerate each and every possible complication. But if abortion is recommended, even with minimal or no justification, there is no legal penalty…..
Fetal problems are the other serious rationale for considering abortion, and diagnosis of these abnormalities has multiplied with the increased use of ultrasound in pregnancy. Ultrasound studies of fetal anatomy are often done at 18-20 weeks, so abortions done as a result of these scans are late abortions. But ultrasound is imperfect and analysis of the images can result in inaccurate interpretations…..
For fatal birth defects, abortion is sometimes presented as the only option. But a better alternative is perinatal hospice. This involves continuing the pregnancy until labor begins and giving birth normally, in a setting of comfort and support until natural death occurs…..
Many couples who have had abortions for birth defects suffer from adverse long-term psychological effects and prolonged grief reactions.14 Children who learn that their mothers aborted their siblings can suffer feelings of worthlessness, guilt, distrust and rage.15
There are couples who are willing to adopt children with Down syndrome or other birth defects, but genetic counselors frequently do not give patients this information…..
Although parents choosing abortion may allege that the disabled child is better off not existing, disabled adults would contest that assertion. When surveyed in numerous studies, no differences have been found between disabled and “able-bodied” people as to their satisfaction with life…..
Perhaps the most important piece of information offered by Dr. Davenport is found in her footnote #12:
A directory of pro-life maternal-fetal medicine specialists can be found on-line. Go to: <www.prolifemfm.org>. These superbly qualified physicians are eager to help women who have been advised to undergo an abortion for medical reasons or fetal birth defects.
One of our Women for Faith & Family founders has two M.D. sons, both of whom are maternal-fetal specialists.
Some of the rest of us at W.F.F. have carried through pregnancies in which our children suffered from fatal birth defects. One of us regularly writes and speaks about Karen, a Down Syndrome daughter who died at 5 months.
No regrets.
As William Blake has written, “Joy and woe are woven fine.”
Sherry Tyree, 66, a graduate of John Burroughs School and Washington University, is a founding member (1984) and Vice President of Women for Faith & Family, a national Catholic women's organization that supports and defends traditional church teachings. Sherry is married to Dr. Donald A. Tyree, professor emeritus, School of Business, St. Louis University. 
constitution,
Why don’t you for now on just ask me what I believe specifically rather than from your tunnel distorted vision or is it just palin outright deceit?
You state:
“Based on your thinking then it would be better for all young souls to be aborted, murdered, and killed before the age of accountability…..
I believe God’s Word when it stated that he desired to feel the earth with people and instructed this in the beginning. I do not think that has changed.
Now based on you statement; ” We who do the killing or allow the killing should just ask for forgiveness when we are done so we get into heaven.”
Are you implying in anyway whatsoever that women who have had abortions or any person who have lead a sinful lifestyle have no hope of Redemption?
If that is what you are stating and just the fact that it appear that you are even implying such is grave error on your part. It certainly shows your lack of understanding and or belief in what God’s Word teach and that is, only He can bring a person into repentence. It takes hearing His Word and for non-believers to witnessing Christian behavior for that to take however and then God will do the rest. That is what God’s Word states and instruct.
The biggest stumblimg block for the world and others coming to God/Christ are so many of you Christians who live your lives as supposedly Christians in contrary to God’s Word for the entire world to see, making a complete mockery out of His Word and God Himself. The problem with the world isn’t all the non-believing sinners in it, but you Christians with this attitude and all you misplaced self-righteousness.
I find the pro abortion group pitiful. These sycophants believe only their view counts, and that they speak for all women. Every since the 60s I’ve watched these self rightous women push abortion as the only answer while casting negative remarks toward all religions. I find it funny that many of these “humans” now have changed their minds and have turned to religion for forgivness. You people are no better then the Nazis, Russian/Chinese communist, its no wonder that most of you are Democrats. In the future people will look back upon this time as a black mark on Human history and wonder how we let this murder of unborn children happen.
And please excuse all my written errors. I respond so fast as in conversation, never double checking or reviewing thoroughly before I post my comments.
constitution, I think it best that I repost this comment because when I removed one of the sentences, it got placed into the incorrect part of my statement. I will also make the needed corrections.
Here it is again:
Why don’t you for now on just ask me what I believe specifically rather than from your tunnel distorted vision or is it just [plain] outright deceit of stating what I am saying?
—————————————————-
You [stated]:
“Based on your thinking then it would be better for all young souls to be aborted, murdered, and killed before the age of accountability…..
Now based on you statement; ” We who do the killing or allow the killing should just ask for forgiveness when we are done so we get into heaven.”
—————————-
constitution: I believe God’s Word when it state[s] that He desire[s] to feel the earth with people and instructed this in the beginning. I do not think that has changed.
Are you implying in anyway whatsoever that women who have had abortions or any person who have lead a sinful lifestyle have no hope of Redemption?
If that is what you are stating and just [by] the fact that it appear[s] that you are even implying such is grave error on your part. It certainly shows your lack of understanding and or belief in what God’s Word teach and that is, only He can bring a person into [repentance]. It takes hearing His [God’s] Word and for non-believers to witnessing Christian behavior [by the actions of Christians] for [God to do the rest as He has promised through Scripture]. That is what God’s Word states and [instructs].
The biggest [stumbling] block for the world and others coming to God/Christ are [with them seeing so many] of you Christians who live your lives as supposedly Christians in contrary to God’s Word for the entire world to see, making a complete mockery out of His Word and God Himself. The problem with the world isn’t all the non-believing sinners in it, but you Christians with this attitude and all [your] misplaced self-righteousness.
M.Simmons,
Do you seriously think that your comments using Scripture to tire down people is will do anyone good? Why is it so shocking to you that people who are far apart from God sin, have abortions and committ all sorts of sin?
What should be shocking to you and other Christians and what deserves more attention are Church members and Church leaders who are behaving as non-believers.
Tell me as a Christian, how on earth can one be shocked by the actions of non-believers or those who are far apart from God?
Most importantly, I ask you all, what is shocking as Chrisians about Satan being in the world and those who are aware being so influenced or under the influence of Satan, what do you expect to see in the world. But, there are no excuses seeing these things within the Churches.
Correction:
….and those who are [unaware] being so influenced or under the influence of Satan,
“pushing abortion as the only answer”
BS. And I’m calling you on it. Show me anywhere, ANY ONE quote or website or news clip or interview or ANYTHING where pro-choice advocates say that. Go ahead, find one, I’ll be here waiting.
Just one of the many lies you fundamentalists need to tell in order to control women. You fringe crazies make me sick.
Stan, that was breathtaking logic. I agree that it is a supreme irony, that to be pro-abortion is all about one’s rights, while denying another human being (nevermind your own offspring!) his or her very own rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Abortion is the modern-day slavery issue. Just as divisive, controversial, and equally rooted in a human’s right to live and thrive.
Lots of ringers sounding off on this topic. Typical. Nathanson was succinct, correct. To those who are pro-choice and especially with later term abortions and 4D ultrasound: “Once we had ultrasound in place, we could study the fetus and see it was a member of our community. If you don’t do that, you’re just a creature of political ideology.”
Too many people are just that, political ideology with nothing more to offer. They can parrot the lines and no thoughts of their own apart from the groupthink.