Could this happen in the US: Irish Girl may go to Britain for abortion?

Question

A young Irish girl learned last month that her fetus has a condition in which a major part of the brain is missing. The fetus is projected to die within 3 days of being born. Abortion is illegal in Ireland, except when the mother is threatened by a medical condition or a suicide risk. So the young girl has to go to Britain for an abortion or carry a fetus to term that will die shortly after it is born. http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20070510-00581200-bc-ireland-abortion.xml

The anti-choice movement either wants to outlaw abortion totally in the US, or only allow it in the case of rape or incest, or only allow it if the mother's life is in danger. Bit by bit medical procedures are being outlawed in the US courts as well as state legislatures. Many health clinics have been closed due to violence.

Will we become a nation again where only the wealthy can afford abortions, out of the country?

Abortion battle heats up in the states:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20070419-23303900-bc-us-court-abortion.xml

Explosive device found at Austin clinic:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20070427-15515000-bc-us-abortionclinic.xml

Answer 1

It's already happening. The state of Missouri recently passed a law that was so strict, that every single Planned Parenthood clinic in the state will be closed by August. There will be 1 remaining clinic in the city of St. Louis, which is on the extreme eastern end of our very large state.

Now, women who need an abortion will face a 6-7 hour drive to the nearest "clinic," most of which will be out of state. And yes, it IS a felony in Missouri to drive a minor across state lines for the purpose of getting an abortion.

Since most clinics require multiple appointments and a waiting period, women will be forced to either pay for a hotel or to make the drive multipler times.

Of course, middle- and upper-class women can have the procedure safely done in a private doctor's office. In the state of Missouri, however, most women can not afford that option.

Answer 2

Er... no.

Let's be realistic here. It's not the "anti-choice" movement any more than the pro-choice movement is the "anti-life" movement, for one thing.

For another, the United States does things a little differently than other countries. We spend a lot of time making decisions and have a lot of freedom to change those decisions if we so choose. If someone has a complaint, they can always file a lawsuit to address it. In other words, the government doesn't have nearly as much control as it does in socialist societies.

That said, we still have Roe v. Wade. Abortion is still legal. The recent ban on a certain type of partial birth abortion, which is STILL allowed if a medical condition facing the mother is probable or evident, is not a ban on abortion period.

Furthermore, the article says the girl is 18 weeks pregnant, or about 4 months pregnant. She would therefore have the right to abort her fetus in the United States to begin with.

You guys may not be aware of this, but the extreme conservative religious right makes up a very small portion of the United States. The fact remains that a ban on abortion is just about impossible right now because the PEOPLE don't want it. They particularly don't want that much government interference.

We can all paint the United States to be the big bad guy, but in the end it's just not accurate. Abortion will not be banned, although certain procedures which could arguably be deemed barbaric (like pulling a developing human out and discarding it in a bin) obviously can and will be.

EDIT: Also, the United States people and legislators are a little bit more tolerant when it comes to extreme cases. After all, victims of rape can still abort their babies, right? I doubt the situation with this case would be any different. On another note, this case will probably cause some reformation to Irish law. I would be surprised if it doesn't.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I do not understand why any woman would want to kill her own child. Or why any man or woman would want others to kill their children.
Does a person deserve the death penalty for the crimes of his or her parent? If the father was a rapist, does the child deserve to be killed for it?
Of course not. If it is too hard for the mother to bear raising a child that was conceived because of rape, then she can put the child up for adoption. So many couples want babies and can't have them. This would help end the need for in vitro fertilization. More people could adopt.
There is always another way, other than to kill the baby.
And for the case you mentioned, where the doctors predict that the baby will die within days after being born, why not let the baby die naturally, instead of killing him or her? It is possible that the doctor made a mistake, and the baby might turn out fine. And if the doctor is right, the result would be the same, the baby will die, but at least the mother is not responsible for the death of her own child.
But if the doctor is wrong...and don't think that doctors are never wrong...then a healthy child could be born.
I wonder how many healthy children have been incorrectly diagnosed as having some sort of disease and been aborted.
And...even if the child did have a disease, does that mean they do not deserve to live? Do you know any deaf people? Any blind people? Any otherwise handicapped people? Do you think they deserve to be killed for it?
Of course not.
Then why should an innocent baby be killed, just because doctors think they will not be what we call "normal."

An unborn baby is not just a "blob of tissue" and it is not just another part of a woman's body. No one hates their own body, and wants to destroy it. You would not fight for the right to cut off your own arm or leg. Those are your own body parts, but most people would find it disgusting to think of the "right" to destroy those parts of your own body. Why should you want to destroy your child? Because it is not a part of your body. Abortion is just a convenient way to "get rid" of a "problem" that you don't want.
But it's not that simple. The baby might not be there anymore, but the "problem" is just beginning.

I wish that abortion would never have become legal. If you want to compare the way it used to be to the way it is now, think of all the other horrible things that are happening now. Now that people don't consider it the "norm" to go to church. Now that God is slowly being taken out of the U.S.A. The more people deviate from the commandments of God, the worse off this country is becoming.
If we do not stand for righteousness, this country will fall.
And that is the truth.

Answer 5

The personal has always been public when it comes to women's bodies and their sexuality. Before Roe vs Wade only the very affluent could afford safe medical abortions. If this era returns we will see the influx of black market abortionists and women who are slaughtered by infection and botched procedures. Feminists need to lobby the government to not allow abortions to be outlawed. As in the case you sight there is a time and a place where abortion is the more humane option for all involved.

Answer 6

No, it is not possible for the United States to prohibit abortion in my opinion.
There are simply far too many wanting to have the choice if needs be to destroy their children while still inside the mothers body.

The U.S. and Ireland are two very different countries with two very different cultures.

In case you are not aware, the right to life of the unborn child was entered into constitution in 1983. It is not an archaic law and it passed by popular referendum.
This highlights the critical difference in values between the U.S. population and the Irish people.
I cannot perceive the U.S. undertaking such a course of action any time soon.

Answer 7

It was the big Irish shame that the girls came over to have their abortions & the Irish Catholic men wanted them to.

Julie Burchill said that whenever any of us had an abortion, there was always an Irish girl called Mary in the next bed.

There's an enormous stigma attached to abortion even me, who campaigned for it wishes it wasn't needed. In UK the staff in clinics are disheartened by the work, bored maybe? Killing isn't a job of choice after all - a sad part is that at least 50% of girls seeking help report that the man didn't believe in abortion until she was pregnant.

It's a nasty business, but there is no safe birth control. We can't go on breeding like this needing more & more earth for housing & schools & malls & factories. We don't have space for any more rubbish, let alone hundreds of children.

Answer 8

I think that's the idea. That's why Republicans are anti-choice. Rich women have always had access to abortion. They simply want to punish poor women for the "sin" of sexuality. For their own girlfriends and daughters, family friend Dr. Smith will be more than happy to quiety perform an abortion and vow that the woman was "suicidal". Or they can send her to Mexico, just as you indicated in your question.

I actually KNOW a family that was faced with a similar problem. The fetus was found to have a serious defect of brain development, and like the Irish girl's baby, would not survive on it's own once born. Additionally, she was having difficulties with pregnancy-related high blood pressure. So, they could try inducing her and end up with a half dead baby, wait it out, putting her at risk from the high blood pressure and having the same result, or have a late-term "Partial Birth" abortion and spare her at least the pain of going through another few months of pregnancy. It was a heartbreaking, terrible, terrible thing. But, thank God that the anti-choice wackos didn't have their way at the time - her doctor would have to tell the family that she would be forced to carry it to term, even though he could spare her that pain. Mind your own business, people.

EDIT: "Anti-choice" is the correct term. A woman is the only one who can be "pro-life" - for herself. She might be pro-choice or anti-choice legally. I know of several Catholic women who are both pro-life AND pro-choice.... and many men who are simply anti-choice. It's not about whether you "like" abortion, it's about whether you believe in other women's right to choose for themselves. That has nothing to do with how you feel about abortion personally.

Answer 9

She should be able to have an abortion if the fetus has such a pathology. It's fine. It's the smartest thing to do.

But if the baby was healthy and she was a woman of legal age who uses abortion as a alternative for birth control, would you still say it's ok? yeah, she would have the right and it's her body, but it won't be her body i would feel sad for, it would be the baby's.

That's about it, i would be *sad*. Does that make me "anti-choice" too?

Answer 10

I don't know what will happen.. But I DO think that the governments of all countries should not outlaw Abortion.
Now before the Christians get on my case, I'm gonna say this out loud before they muck it up with their christian beliefs.

A woman's body is her own bloody business! Why should I have to prove I was raped before I can have an abortion? Why put me through that trauma first? It should be a right for every woman to make her OWN choice. God is a god of love not of hatred. Rape is a crime of hatred, and a child made through that act should not be brought into a world where he and his mother will be constantly reminded of what happened.

There should be a protest as this should be a Freedom of Choice. No one has the right to force a woman to keep an unwanted child. It should be a choice!
With all the starvation and poverty in the world, I'm surprised its not urged more!