I posted a previous question about whether ectopic pregnancy removal?

Question

equated with abortion and cited a case from Nicaragua of a woman who died because doctors were afraid to remove the ectopic pregnancy for fear of being accused of performing an abortion. (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=As0kVsJ6QwEEZpuAVv54CBXsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071105112424AACilwV) Interestingly, many people said this could NEVER happen in the US, but in today's Yahoo news there is an article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071114/ap_on_re_us/abortion_measure;_ylt=AiPFQ_j80ZFDwMnCKMM61SRvzwcF) that says there are those who seek to define a fertilized egg as a person, with all the inalienable rights to do process, etc. of any person. Although supporters of the measure claim this has nothing to do with abortion, what might happen in the case of an ectopic pregnancy?? The egg IS fertilized at that point. Would the woman have to go to court to receive the surgery to remove the ectopic pregnancy? Would the delay cost lives? Is this a slippery slope? Your comments?

Trying the link to the previous question again.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao4FsVvvpX68vdmsnfl83YLsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071105112424AACilwV

Answer 1

I have NEVER heard of a case where the pregnancy was not allowed to be terminated when it created a true risk to the mother's life. I have heard of cases where the mother did not allow a termination despite the risk to her life. But ectopic pregnancies leave the doctor no choice but to terminate.

Answer 2

The ONLY reason I am answering this question is because you asked it and not someone who has less of a track record here.

Ectopic means "out of place." In an ectopic pregnancy, a fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus. The egg settles in the fallopian tubes more than 95% of the time. This is why ectopic pregnancies are commonly called "tubal pregnancies." The egg can also implant in the ovary, abdomen, or the cervix, so you may see these referred to as cervical or abdominal pregnancies.

None of these areas has as much space or nurturing tissue as a uterus for a pregnancy to develop. As the fetus grows, it will eventually burst the organ that contains it. This can cause severe bleeding and endanger the mother's life. A classical ectopic pregnancy never develops into a live birth.

Treatment of an ectopic pregnancy varies, depending on its size and location and whether you want the ability to conceive again.

An early ectopic pregnancy can sometimes be treated with an injection of methotrexate, which dissolves the fertilized egg and allows your body to reabsorb it. This nonsurgical approach minimizes scarring of your pelvic organs.

About one of every 50 known pregnancies is ectopic Surgeons are unable to transplant an ectopic pregnancy into the uterus, so the pregnancy must be terminated.

In fact, if an ectopic pregnancy is not recognized and treated in time, the embryo will grow until it causes the tube to rupture, resulting in severe abdominal pain, bleeding, and sometimes even death. Most ectopic pregnancies are caught in time, but the condition still causes about 50 deaths in the United States each year.

Further, According the the CDC, in addition to the lack of accurate statistics, none of the reports take into account the effects of induced abortion, increasing the risk of death in subsequent pregnancies. There is considerable scientific evidence to suggest that the following potentially life-threatening complications of pregnancy are statistically increased in pregnancies following induced abortion. These include: placenta previa, retained placenta, abruptio placentae and obstetrical infection.

There is substantial evidence that the effects of induced abortion contribute to an increase in the number of deaths, due to a subsequent ruptured ectopic pregnancy. In addition, there are negative psychological effects of induced abortion, including suicide, which may result in an increased likelihood of a pregnancy-related death. Negative psychological effects also may lead to behavior, such as increased smoking, alcohol or drug use, which increase the mortality risk of women in pregnancy. Finally, carrying a pregnancy to term appears to have a protective effect on a subsequent pregnancy by lowering the risk of life-threatening complications, such as hypertensive disorders.

With the above information and the status of current law on the subject (both statewide and federal law) the issue is not that the fertiziled egg should become a 'person' under the legal definition - that has already been decided by the courts on all levels and through legislation, but at what point and under what conditions does the person come under the protection of the law.

While abortion is legal, such a procedure under medical ethics does not rise to the definition of abortion as the 'fertilized egg' is not inutero, not in the uterus. Therefore, the current laws would need to be rewritten to include such pregnancies under the same cloak of laws now in effect.

This is not a slippery slope as many would think because the laws are in place presently to protect not only the woman's right to an abortion but also the fetus' right to life upon the time threshold.

So the major hurdle proponents of the reclassification of the fertilized egg face is 1. altering the perception of the U.S.Supreme court and legislatures of all 50 states in considering the fertilization of the egg as a 'person' under law; 2. reclassification of the product of an ectopic pregnancy on the same level as inutereo pregnancy, and 3. Rewriting the existing laws regarding abortion to preclude any such actions upon fertilization of the egg.

All three events must happen for the proponents in your new clip to become successful and realistically, it won't happen.

Answer 3

I've had an ectopic pregnancy and let me clue you in on something....with an ectopic pregnancy...you MUST REMOVE THE (i'll call it a growth) the growth from tube or it will rupture and cause death.
By the time I got to the hospital ER, I only had 20 minutes to get to surgery or I WOULD DIE....
There is no time for court, lawyers....and decisions to be made...this is a situation where it's life or death...nothing more, nothing less...
So who ever tells you different is LYING...
My tube had already ruptured and by the time I got medical attention and help...I looked 5 months pregnant...but check this out...it wasn't because of the pregnancy itself...I WAS BLEEDING INTERNALLY SO BAD, THAT MY STOMACHE BLOATED BECAUSE IT WAS FULL OF BLOOD..
It was the month of August and I had such a nice, dark, tan...well let me tell ya...by the time they ran me up to surgery...I was as white as the sheets on the stretcher...
Thank god, I got there in time and they were able to do the surgery and save my life...

Answer 4

It just goes to show how stupid the abortion debate has become. I know a woman who almost died from an ectopic pregnancy. The idea that the rights of a fetus that won't survive can override the rights of a woman is beyond the pale, yet the debate continues...

Answer 5

There is nothing to go to trial. The result of an ectopic pregnancy is death for the baby. Regardless of whether it is removed or not. You can remove it and save the mother or not and kill the mother. I don't understand why this would be an issue the only thing it could possibly do is cause more than one death. There have been many women trying to conceive who has had ectopic pregnancies. Believe me that if they could have continued with the pregnacy they would have. There are many women that go through risks that could kill them to save their babies but this isn't one of them. There is no possible way to save the baby.