Mormon Woman’s Facebook Response to Trump’s Characterization of Late-Term Abortion Goes Viral
Last night during the debate, Donald Trump — who has neither a medical degree or a uterus — used colorful language to explain what he believes happens during a late-term abortion. He also accused rival Hillary Clinton of being fine with fetuses being “ripped” from the womb and killed in the ninth month of gestation. A number of people were shocked, including those in the medical community and women who have undergone the procedure. Statistics and first-person accounts show that late-term abortion doesn’t happen because a woman simply forgot to schedule her appointment for half a year and let the fetus develop too much. Around one percent of abortions in America happen after the 21st week of pregnancy. 88% of abortions occur within the first 12 weeks.
So, what is it that makes a woman seek out one of those very-rare late-term abortions? As Clinton said last night, it’s usually something heartbreaking. One woman was so shocked by Trump’s statements last night that she shared her own story on Facebook:
Alyson Draper, whose geotag placed her in Utah, shared the decision she made after learning that one twin died in-utero and the other would not survive outside of her womb. She had six children already and, with her LDS bishop, made the decision to abort the remaining twin. She described “bawling” on the hospital floor for 12 hours and called the abortion itself “terrible” but was careful to point out that it was done gently and considerately.
She ended her post with this:
No woman should have to have the state have a say in the most painful decision she will ever make. Nobody is tearing babies apart in late term. They are always humanely done, only in situations where there is a non-viable or severely defective fetus and/or the mother’s health is at risk.
Please don’t vote for a candidate or a party that would make these decisions for the women who will die or be forced to carry unviable fetuses to term. This is a decision that is so painful and so terrible. Only the parents of the baby and a physician should be involved in the decision.
The post has thousands of shares and accumulates more by the minute. She has received a number of condemning comments about “killing” her babies, but she has also received a lot of support.
There are many more examples of stories like Draper’s. The 2013 documentary After Tiller showcases a few in great detail and follows the lives of the four doctors left in America who perform true late-term abortions.
In the past, Trump has also suggested that women should be punished for seeking out an abortion.
[image via screengrab]
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