Harassment definitely seems to have a big impact. The number of providers plunged during the 90s during a rash of violent incidents, and while we can acknowledge that correlation doesn’t equal causation, it would still be the way to bet.
But there are other issues. Hamlet’s point about the sparse population in some areas is a good one. I would guess there are parts of Kansas where finding an OB/Gyn is a bit of a challenge, or a cardiologist, or a rheumatologist. And, of course, just because someone is free to perform abortions without fear doesn’t mean they want to.
I never said that I knew for sure. Do you have a cite that they don’t? Their behavior ( worldwide, not just in America ) certainly supports the hypothesis that they support it more than the idea that they don’t. Why would people who don’t care when women and children die care if a doctor who they regard as a monster gets assassinated?
After all, he’s saving the lives of sluts so he deserves whatever happens to him.
The question has been dispose of on other grounds, but I will point out that “imperiling you” is not the issue. He wanted to say he was acting in defense of another.
you are absolutely right about that. i am a public defender and have had more than one client convict themselves by taking the stand and “jabber[ing].” :smack:
in the course of a criminal proceeding, the client has the absolute right to do three things, 1) plea freely (guilty or not), 2) testify or not testify in their own defense, and 3) appeal any decision against their interest.
as the defense attorney, you can advise your client to death about how foolish it may be to get on the stand and “jabber.” but everyone is entitled to his/her day in court.
I will never understand how educated professionals come in here touting their credentials and can’t figure out how fucking stupid it makes you look when you can’t capitalize your posts.
No they don’t; that’s rather the point. The anti-abortion movement is all about the hatred of women, and its only real concern for “the unborn” much less actual children is using them as weapons to hurt women with. Just look at the places where they get their way; they are always places that are terrible for women, along with the children they are forced to bear. The anti-abortionists care about women about as much as the KKK cares about blacks.
Decent people are never anti abortion by definition; holding that opinion makes them not a decent person. You can’t hold such a sadistic, tyrannical, bigoted position and be decent any more than you can believe that black people should be slaves and be a decent person.
A cite for my opinion? And where’s the cite for your ridiculous claim that they actually care about the lives of others?
Again, Hamlet, you might be interested in the the Frontline episode I linked. It addresses Boyo Jim’s comments on harassment by politicians and anti-choice groups which has severely reduced the availability of abortion procedures. Many women, especially in the rural south have to drive hours to get to a clinic where they get harassed.
I suppose indicating what your chosen profession is amounts to, “touting” your credentials. I did not know that to claim being a lawyer, and a public defender at that, was “touting,” anything. Frankly, I am flattered.
I apologize to everyone for deigning to write such a, “fucking stupid,” post. But I am new here…
I like your user name. Lucky for you, our welcome package includes 2 extra shift keys and a map just in case you lose yours, or forget where to find them.
I tried to edit my previous post to include the following… “I will henceforth endeavor to capitalize, use proper grammar, etc…” But my five minutes had elapsed. Damn SDMB rules!
I read a good chunk of the things they posted. And, again, I’m not contesting that the number of listed abortion providers has gone down, that harassment is indeed part of the reason for that. But, as even the Frontline points out, there are other factors, including state and federal regulations restricting abortions, as well as doctor’s (and potential doctors) own personal choices, lack of all around health care, and fiscal reasons. To try and pin the lack of abortion providers solely on harassment instead of the myriad of reasons including harassment, is, as I said, myopic.
I am curious. For those of you who are anti-abortion, but do not fall into Der Trihs’ category of “people who hate women and want them to die” camp. (ie all of you), I have a question.
Some of ou (eg Silverstreak Wonder, maybe others) have indicated that it is a Good Thing that the number of abortion provides have decreased (lets not wonder why this may be for the moment).
Given that third trimester abortions are rare, and that the vast majority of them are not “elective”, what is your reasoning for this? I mean, with fewer doctors willing to perform this procedure, we now have a case where a woman who wanted to bring a child into the world, but is facing a life threatening condition on account of a non-viable fetus… may not get proper medical attention.
Through no fault of her own, she may be carrying a fetus with no brain tissue - basically a lump of flesh that has no chance of living. This fetus is killing her. It must be removed. There is nobody to do it. This is partly due to the abortion protest movement that has decreased the number of abortion providers (we’ll assume now that the anti-abortion movement has had at least SOME effect.)
I don’t see where this is cause for rejoicing? Please tell me what I’m missing here?
You do realize that by saying I am wrong about them, you are just calling them idiots? They are happy that it is harder for women to get lifesaving treatment. There’s no good way to spin that.
Me, I respect them enough to believe that they know exactly what they are supporting. Which makes them murderous woman haters.
I do think that the number of doctors performing late term abortions being low is a good thing. However, I do not think it needs to even be as shockingly low as it is now: as it stands there can be hardly any chance that any late term abortions performed are not medically necessary.
Some anti abortionists have claimed that it is easy to get a “medical necessity” waiver for bogus reasons, and that actually made me pause and think before I found out about the number of doctors, which leads me to believe that this is not a problem (otherwise there would probably be an order of magnitude or more doctors who perform LTAs).
It is, however, unhealthy to society to limit the number of doctors who perform LTAs via terrorism and threats. As it stands, even if we doubled the amount of doctors we could still rest assured that all the abortions they provided were medically necessary.
You may even be in the majority - but it is true that there are a significant number who feel that there should be NO doctors who perform this procedure. What do you think they’re thinking? And I still refuse to think that they are evil and hate women. The number who fit in that category is vanishingly small IMHO.
But I am new here…