One of the most controversial forms of abortion is the partial birth abortion. This basically refers to a medical process called intact dilation and extraction. This is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a whole or intact fetus from the womb through the cervix. The term ‘partial birth abortion’ was first used in public, political, and legal discourse to discuss the legality of the procedure in the United States.
The debate on this subject is more often due to the term as well as the procedure. The opponents of the term refer to it as a political invention used to seek greater support for larger legal restrictions. On the other hand, supporters of the term refer to it as an accurate description of the procedure being represented.
Origin of the Term
This procedure was developed by Dr. James McMahon in 1983. Several years later, the term ‘partial birth abortion’ began to pop out everywhere in reference to the procedure. The term was first used on June 4, 1995, by the media during a pro-life event that supported legislation limiting abortions. The term ‘brain suction abortion’ was also used along with the term ‘partial birth abortion’ by pro-life activists, such as Janet Folger, during this time.
Controversy
In 2003, President George W. Bush signed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act. This law described the procedure as “a gruesome and inhumane procedure that is never medically necessary.’ Many pro-life advocates consider the procedure equivalent to infanticide or murder.
The main battleground concerning abortions deals with the potential health risk to the mother. That is why most anti-abortion laws are considered unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The anti-abortion laws that do not permit the procedure under special circumstances have been summarily struck down by the Supreme Court. However, the American Medical Association has recently stated that partial birth abortion is never medically necessary, allowing for the creation of the law that bans this procedure.
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