National Abortion Federation Blog: Saporta Reporter
| News about reproductive choice from the President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation, Vicki Saporta. |
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We continue to mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, Dr. George Tiller. Dr. Tiller was a dedicated physician who provided quality abortion care to women, at great personal sacrifice and risk. He is truly a hero to his fellow abortion providers and his patients. Dr. Tiller’s office is filled with letters from women, thanking him for the excellent, compassionate care he provided. Many of these women say Dr. Tiller saved their lives.
Since his tragic death, we have received messages from some of his patients and from people around the world who are saddened and outraged. We feel it is important to share these words and tributes to our beloved colleague and friend. For the first time, we will enable comments on our blog so that all of you can share your condolences or offer memories of Dr. Tiller. We invite you to join us in honoring a true American hero, Dr. George Tiller.
Post your comments, condolences, and personal memories of Dr. Tiller
Wednesday's Words from Women
 Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.I just want to start by saying, “Thank you.” If it wasn’t for the Hotline’s help, this would have never happened. I am 19 years old and I have two kids, a little girl that is two years old and a little boy that’s five months old. As you can see, I have my hands full at all times, and I can barely afford the two that I have now. It would have been really hard to have another. It hurts to do it, but I know it’s the best thing for my family. So thank you a lot for your help. It would have been really hard for me. I appreciate what the Hotline is doing for women like me, and I hope that it can help even more women.
--submitted by Jane* through a member clinic I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 at the age of 28. I am now 32 years of age, pregnant, and have a tumor growing in my uterus, and the doctors are concerned that it is cancerous. I have chosen to make this decision based on my health and the two boys that are already here that need me – alive! I have already given a baby up for adoption, so I know how that feels too. It wasn’t easy and neither is this decision. I did what’s best for my health and for my boys. -submitted by Justine* through a member clinic*Names have been changed to protect patient privacyLabels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women
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Wednesday's Words from Women
Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.I don’t know where to begin or start. This is a blessing to me as a single mother of two that was just laid off of work with no income at the time. I am so happy that the Hotline wants to help women. Thank you oh so much for the help and support! --submitted by Kate* through a member clinicWhen I was 22 years old, I was in an abusive relationship and already had a two-year-old daughter. I was working two jobs just to make ends meet without help from my parents, when I found out I was pregnant again. I had taken precautions and was on the birth control pill at the time. When I went to my boyfriend and told him, his reaction was not a positive one. His family was very anti-choice and knew I could not go to them for help. My mother and grandparents gave me the money to terminate my pregnancy; I knew if I did not, I was never going to be able to get out of the current relationship that I was in. After that, I was able to return to college, where I finished my nursing degree. I became a nurse, went to work at the same clinic that had helped me, and was able to help many other women in my same situation.
--submitted by Melissa* through our website*Names have been changed to protect patient privacyLabels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women
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Kansas Judge Rejects Change of Venue and “Necessity Defense” in Scott Roeder Trial
Statement of Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF) in response to the pre-trial hearing for Scott Roeder: Today Judge Warren Wilbert denied the requests of Scott Roeder’s defense team to move the trial venue out of Sedgwick County, Kansas, as well as to introduce the so-called “necessity defense” as justification for the cold-blooded murder of Dr. George Tiller. Although an extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement believes that it is justifiable to use deadly force to stop abortion, their attempts to use such a defense in court have been repeatedly rejected. Attempts by convicted murderers Paul Hill and James Kopp were both found to not meet the legal standards of justifiable homicide laws and were not permitted during their trials. There is no justification for murdering doctors who provide abortion care. Scott Roeder has confessed to the murder, and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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President Obama Signs Budget, Which Lifts DC Abortion Ban
Today, Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation (NAF), commended President Obama and Congress for lifting a longstanding ban that prohibits DC from using its locally raised revenue to help low-income women obtain the abortion care they need. “We are pleased that Congress and the President have removed this discriminatory policy, which has for far too long interfered with DC women’s ability to access safe, legal abortion care,” said Saporta. “This prohibition also interfered with the rights of DC residents and has effectively prevented the DC government from assessing and meeting the needs of its community.” Since 1977, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited the use of federal Medicaid funds to pay for medically necessary abortion care for most low-income women, except in very limited circumstances. Although states may use non-federal funds to pay for abortion care, since 1988 Congress has restricted DC from using its own locally raised funds to provide abortion care to low-income women. DC now has the ability to choose how to direct its local Medicaid funds. President Obama signed the FY 2010 Budget, which lifted the ban on the District’s use of locally raised funds for abortion care. This is a major step forward for women in our nation’s capitol. Labels: Medicaid, Obama Administration, women
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Wednesday's Words from Women
Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.I’m 25 years old and the single mom to a six-year-old boy. My son and I live in low-income housing and I’m trying my best to finish college. Having a child at this point in my life would financially and psychologically impair me. Having the option and the right to make my own life choices, which not only affect me but my son as well, saves me from making desperate and/or drastic and dangerous decisions. --submitted by Vivian* through a member clinicI want to thank the clinic and Hotline, not only for giving women a second chance, but for understanding different circumstances. I was practicing safe sex when I got pregnant; even though I was being responsible, accidents do happen. I appreciate all of you so much from the bottom of my heart. --submitted by Mary* through a member clinic*Names have been changed to protect patient privacyLabels: patient stories, wednesday's words from women
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NAF Patients in the News
Last night, the Senate defeated the Nelson-Hatch Amendment, which would have imposed the same restrictions to insurance coverage for abortion as the Stupak-Pitts Amendment passed by the House. Yesterday, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) cited some of our patient's stories during debate on the Senate floor. Today, Women’s eNews profiled one of the patients we brought forward to lobby against the Stupak-Pitts and Nelson-Hatch Amendments: One Woman Mobilized
One person who was mobilized by the Dec. 2 protest is Dana Weinstein.
In an exclusive interview with Women's eNews, Weinstein said that until recently she'd felt uncomfortable even uttering the word "abortion."
But then it happened to her.
In the early part of this summer, Weinstein was still a happily pregnant 38-year-old watching TV at her home in Maryland. A reporter interviewed a physician in Boulder, Colo., named Warren Hern. After the murder of Dr. George Tiller earlier this year, Hern is one of the country's last doctors who still provides late-term abortions.
"I remember lying in bed thinking, how could anybody terminate later term?"
Weinstein said.
But then, a few weeks later in late June, at 28 weeks, a routine sonogram showed an abnormality in her fetus's brain. A subsequent MRI showed that the fetus had two life-threatening conditions. If it survived birth, it would likely require immediate resuscitation and a life of feeding tubes.
After consulting more doctors, Weinstein and her husband wound up in Hern's clinic in Colorado.
Now, five months later, Weinstein is still fighting with her insurance company, hoping to be reimbursed for some of $17,500 it cost for the late-term abortion.
"I was fortunate to be able to pull the money together," Weinstein said, adding that the experience has spurred her to speak out on behalf of other, less fortunate women.
Her first move: vocally opposing the Stupak-Pitts amendment. In recent days Weinstein has shared her story with members of the National Abortion Federation, the staff of Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and Women's eNews.
>Read the full article.>Share your abortion experience.Labels: anomaly, health care reform, patient stories
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Wednesday's Words from Women
Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.In the 17th week of a much wanted pregnancy, my baby was diagnosed via ultrasound with renal agenesis, a condition in which the kidneys, bladder and renal system fail to form, and which is incompatible with life. I was told that if I did not terminate the pregnancy, the baby would either be stillborn or, if he survived to term, he would be born and then very shortly thereafter die of asphyxiation (a functioning renal system is necessary for fetal lung development). I chose to terminate the pregnancy at 18 weeks via induced labor and delivery (which I was advised was a safe way to terminate a second trimester pregnancy and which would allow a full autopsy on the fetus to determine if there were any genetic problems). I was in the hospital for two days, during which time labor was induced and I delivered my baby. My health insurance covered the entire procedure. Had I not been insured, I would have incurred thousands of dollars in hospital-related bills. Honestly, I cannot imagine a health care system that would not pay for therapeutic abortions. Going through a therapeutic abortion is already emotionally wrenching and it would be a terribly cruel system that forces a woman to choose between carrying a child that will either certainly die or suffer terribly, versus being faced with thousands of dollars in medical bills that her family may be ill-equipped to pay. That is certainly is not caring for the health of myself and my family. -submitted by Madison* through our website*Names have been changed to protect patient privacyLabels: anomaly, health care reform, patient stories, wednesday's words from women
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Letter to the Editor in New York Times
Today’s New York Times published my letter concerning restrictions like the Stupak Amendment in health care reform: To the Editor: Re “ False Alarm on Abortion,” by Phillip B. Levine (Op-Ed, Nov. 25): Mr. Levine dismisses talk about the potential impact of the Stupak amendment as an exaggeration of what would change for women. Eighty-seven percent of employer-based health plans currently provide coverage for abortion care. If the Stupak amendment or equally restrictive language were included in the final version of the health care reform bill, millions of women could risk losing their coverage. No woman plans to have an abortion. The individual circumstances for this choice are as varied as the women themselves; fetal anomalies, health risks and spousal abuse do not discriminate based on age, income or insurance status. Likewise, Mr. Levine’s contention that nothing would change for uninsured women or women covered by Medicaid does little to advance his argument. Restrictions on public funding for abortion are one of the biggest barriers to women seeking abortion care. Just because these restrictions are already in place does not mean that further limitations should be accepted. Meaningful reform of health care cannot take place by sacrificing the well-being of half of the citizens of this country. Labels: health care reform, insurance, women
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Women Speak out Against Stupak Amendment
Last week, NAF brought a group of patients to Capitol Hill to share their abortion experiences with legislators as part of a DC lobby day to oppose the Stupak Amendment. Each of these women had a different experience with insurance coverage for their abortion care, and they represent the women who could be affected by restrictions like the Stupak Amendment and the Nelson-Hatch Amendment, which was introduced in the Senate today. NAF member and author, Professor Carole Joffe joined us last week in DC and spoke with some of the patients we brought forward. Today, she blogged about her experience: “….the most moving and significant part of the day was my conversation with three women who had later abortions….In spite of the different outcomes experienced by Mary, Christie and Dana, all three of these women have taken the step of going public with their stories because of their profound belief that no woman or her partner should be fighting bureaucracies or facing possible bankruptcy at the saddest moment in their lives.” > Read Joffe's complete post.> Share your abortion experience.Labels: health care reform, insurance, women
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Over one-third of women of reproductive age have an abortion by the age of 45. However, women who have chosen abortion are often absent from the public debate. In order to break the silence surrounding abortion, we will be featuring real stories from real women each Wednesday on our blog. If you would like to share your story with us or have it published on our blog, go to http://www.prochoice.org/pregnant/hotline/share.html.