pc@hplabsb.UUCP (10/01/83)
On Tuesday the US Senate will be voting on a bill for Medicare funding of medical care for women terminating pregnancies. Recently, the House defeated a bill for Medicare funding in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment. The message is clear: even if women DIE from carrying out a pregnancy, politicians are "unwilling to take on the vocal anti-choice militia." (to quote a politician heard on NPR) I understand that there is much to be debated about many aspects of this issue (government-paid health care for the poor, fetal rights vs. women's rights). HOWEVER, unless YOU would be willing to die giving birth it seems in your best interest to be heard NOW. Call your local library to find out your senators' names. Call their offices before Monday afternoon. NARAL recommends that individuals inform their senators that they support "full medical funding for abortion, especially in cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment." A Public Service Message
smb@ulysses.UUCP (10/06/83)
Before Roe vs. Wade, the availability and legality of abortion varied widely; it was a matter of individual state laws. As for the claim that women die in pregnancy because they are denied abortions: it's a statistical matter. According to every study I've seen, women carrying a pregnancy to term are at greater risk than women who have abortions. (The same is true, incidentally, of pregnancy vs. any method of contraceptions. Figures I've seen this week (in the N.Y. Times and Newsweek) gave a 2% risk of problems (I don't recall how severe) from a pregnancy, vs. a .1% risk for the Pill. The diaphragm is essentially risk-free, but of the couples using it in their first year of marriage, about 18% experienced an undesired pregnancy. This implies that their are serious usage problems, and that women should possibly give more consideration to the Pill when they're young -- especially because the risk of using the Pill doesn't become significant (for most women) until 35 or 40.) --Steve Bellovin
annej@hammer.UUCP (Anne Jacko) (10/07/83)
<< FLAME ON >> Please!!!! Let's drop this (newly resurrected) abortion discussion before all we veteran readers of net.women unsubscribe! EVERYTHING has already been said, no one's mind is ever changed, and most of us are SICK OF IT! << FLAME OFF >> -- Anne Jacko, Tektronix
eich@uiuccsb.UUCP (10/09/83)
#R:hplabsb:-188400:uiuccsb:12700008:000:217 uiuccsb!eich Oct 8 22:48:00 1983 It's not a public service to cite hypothetical and extremely improbable hard cases in order to argue against general proscription (i.e. Law). I though this topic was done to death and banned by general weariness...