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Hi Rep. Trent Franks. I’m a researcher and abortion provider. This isn’t actual science. I’d be happy to educate you about it if you’d like. https://twitter.com/RepTrentFranks/status/914889566825385985
First, @RepTrentFranks, you should know that “late-term abortion” is not a medical term. At all. Anti-abortion advocates made it up.
As a medical provider, we refer to abortions being performed at specific gestational ages counted in weeks based on last menstrual period.
My patients need abortions after the first trimester, 12 weeks, for a variety of reasons. We don’t call it “late”. That’s antichoice stigma.
Because of restrictions on access, patients have a hard time getting a first trimester abortion, @RepTrentFranks. http://laterabortion.org/general-information/why-women-need-later-abortion
Here’s a fact sheet on why patients need abortions after the first trimester, @RepTrentFranks. https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/laterabortion.factsheet.1-2015no-bleed.pdf
Some patients need an abortion post-20-weeks due to the fetus having a lethal anomaly. HR 36 means they’ll have to carry the fetus to term.
Forcing my patients to carry a fetus with a lethal anomaly until they go into labor or deliver at term is unsafe. http://laterabortion.org/legislative-news/women-must-carry-nonviable-pregnancies-term-because-restrictive-new-york-law
Patients then have to withstand the physical impact of of childbirth and the mental trauma of carrying a child that is dead or will die.
That’s painful to watch a patient and her family go through, @RepTrentFranks.
.@RepTrentFranks, you’ve mentioned “fetal pain” and I’d like to take the opportunity to educate you on it as well. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/201429?hc_location=ufi
Our best evidence indicates a fetus cannot perceive pain until the third trimester, 26 weeks, not 20-weeks. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/201429?hc_location=ufi
If you are going to base your bill on science, we should be using the best evidence, which indicates 26 weeks. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/201429?hc_location=ufi
Also, abortion is an incredibly safe procedure. Here, I made a video you can watch and learn from @RepTrentFranks. https://vimeo.com/185854390
Here’s a little more information about how your bill isn’t based on facts, @RepTrentFranks. http://laterabortion.org/media-and-commentary/later-abortion-ban-not-based-facts
I hope you learned something, @RepTrentFranks. If you want to learn more, feel free to reach out to me or visit http://laterabortion.org
