Pro-life abortion opponents claim that they confuse the diagnosis of fetal abnormality with situations where life is at risk.
Terrisa is a pro-life activist and she urges the DOJ to investigate possible crimes committed by “The Five”.
Terrisa, a progressive activist who supports life, has spoken against the DOJ for allegedly concealing an investigation to determine if five illegal abortions occurred in D.C. in 2022.
In pro-life states, legislative attempts to allow abortions on unborn children who have disabilities are starting to emerge amid controversy over a Texas woman’s struggle to obtain an abortion when her child was diagnosed with a genetic disorder in the womb.
Kate Cox, a Texas mother of two, had her story featured on national news in December.
Texas law does not allow abortions for fetal abnormalities, even if it makes exceptions for “conditions that are life-threatening” and “risks of serious impairment to a major body function”. Cox had to leave Texas to get an abortion.
Nebraska’s state parliament held a hearing on Thursday, to discuss a proposed bill that would allow abortions for fetal anomalies. This term is used when referring to babies who are “incompatible with living” outside the womb.
Merv Rise, the Nebraska legislator who introduced the bill to the Nebraska state legislature, stated that the goal was to “fix” Nebraska’s 12-week abortion restriction.
He said that women could become mothers but that it would only be after 12 weeks that they would realize they did not have a viable fetus. When determining if a fetus can be born, two doctors are involved.
“The loss or cancellation of a pregnancy is a heartbreaking experience, but it may be necessary for the mother to be’s health and well-being. ”
Tennessee lawmakers, who have already passed a law that allows abortions after conception, are now trying to draft a similar provision to Nebraska’s. This law would allow abortions if the mother was deemed “sterile” and incapable of having a child again if the pregnancy had been carried to term.
Critics claim that the bills will remove protections for children with disabilities, allow them to receive discrimination, and terminate their pregnancy at late term.
Beverly Jacobson is the founder and president of Verity’s Village, and she’s a mother. She has a 7-year-old girl with Trisomy 18. This nonprofit provides practical support for families who are diagnosed with life-limiting conditions during pregnancy.
She said, “My daughter Verity is not the only one with Trisomy 18.” She said: “My daughter Verity, who is nearly seven years old, is not the only person living with Trisomy 18.
Kate Cox, a 31-year-old woman from Texas was forced to travel to another state to have an abortion because the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the trisomy-18 diagnosis on the fetus did not qualify as an exception to the Texas ban on abortion.
She said, “It is unfortunate that many doctors encourage parents to abort their babies when they are diagnosed with Trisomy 18, or any other disability. I hope legislators will show compassion for Verity and others with disabilities. This will prevent them from having to endure painful late-term terminations.
Kelsey Pritchard is the director of State Public Affairs at SBA Pro-Life America. She says that she sympathizes with mothers who receive a bad pregnancy diagnosis, but criticizes what she calls “the abortion industry’s spin-doctors” who “manipulated stories to justify endless abortion and attack disabled babies.”
She said that abortion supporters were confusing pregnant women by conflating situations where mothers’ health was at risk with fetal abnormalities. In the United States, every pro-life law allows doctors to take action in cases where a pregnant woman’s safety is at risk.
Tara Sander Lee is vice president for Life Sciences at the Charlotte Lozier Institute and director of its Charlotte Lozier Institute. She agrees with this sentiment and argues that babies diagnosed prenatally are often not killed by their condition, but rather because of “discrimination” and “denial of treatment”, which the medical establishment has practiced.
She said that 60% of babies with trisomy 13 and 18 are aborted before birth. According to a Japanese study, trisomy 18 babies who were given proper care and surgical interventions survived up until discharge in 81.5% of cases.
She added that some babies with T13 or T18 who undergo surgery to correct their heart condition may survive longer. The median survival is 15 or 16 years. “In America, we are too quick to judge children by their abilities and it’s clear that abortion does not cure or treat the disease of a child.
He said, “The Nebraska Pro-Life Coalition encourages legislators and the public to take action to protect babies with life-limiting diseases, their families, and themselves. We urge senators not to pass LB 1109. It will stop these vulnerable babies from being aborted as soon as they feel pain.
Jacobson describes her feelings in an interview when she learned that her daughter is Trisomy 18.
The woman said, “I was shocked when my doctor told me that the condition Trisomy 18, which is a genetic disorder, was more likely to affect my baby.”
Jacobson is an eight-child mom and the spouse of a military man. She admitted she struggled with accepting that she would have a ninth child after learning she was pregnant. A phone call she will never forget.
I kept asking, “Well what does that mean?” What if our baby is affected? “Well, most babies with such a problem will die while in utero,” said the doctor. The doctor said, “Well most babies with this problem will die in utero.”
She responded: “We immediately said, ‘Okay. Whatever happens, we have no idea. We love this baby regardless of complications. Abortion will not be an option for us.
Jacobson described two conversations that left her deeply moved. Although they didn’t advise her to have an abortion, they said that she would live a meaningless life if she gave birth.
Beverly was surprised when Beverly’s physician said: “So you are here to discuss your retarded child.
She said, “The head of the hospital’s department began our conversation by describing my unborn child. He then went on to tell me that she would lead a futile existence if I lived.
She said, “He warned her that she would drain family finances, emotionally, and mentally. When I visited the hospital, I wanted to know what she needed to survive once she was born.
In the first four to six weeks after the diagnosis, Beverly’s husband prepared “to bury their daughter”.
After my diagnosis, I joined an online support group where I found babies and children with Trisomy 18 and began to connect with them. I was shocked to learn that there were babies and children with Trisomy 18.
Beverly says that doctors who spoke to her said that she and her family wouldn’t have a good quality of life if she chose to carry her disabled child to full term.
“I have a lot of friends who are disabled and I cannot imagine living without them or not having their influence on my life.” She said. It’s just their perspective.
Beverly and her husband founded Verity’s Village in honor of their daughter. This village offers support to hundreds of families who have children with Trisomy 18, and other genetic disorders.
She stated: “Now that our office is in a position of serving families, we realize that the majority of people who we speak to believe that abortion would be a logical step to take after receiving a cancer diagnosis. That was not said.
Beverly replied, “I understand.” “I understand why it is so controversial,” Beverly said.
She said, “Obviously it’s a baby that is alive.” We were able to take her home. In a way, we succeeded because she survived and people did not expect her to. It was only the beginning.
She said: “When I realized how difficult this was journey and spoke to families in our local community, my heart went to these mothers who were given a diagnosis and were terrified by the dire predictions about what would happen to their child. I was stunned.”
She added, “For me the pregnancy was hard. “I was worried and anxious, not knowing whether the baby would live or how it would affect our family if we brought him home.”
Beverly stated that Verity’s Village has been operating for nearly three years. It was created to show mothers that there were alternatives to abortion.
She said that she would also like to replace the phrase “incompatible with a life” with “life-limiting diagnoses”, as “there are some limitations for babies and kids, and yes, there are those who die in utero,” and “we didn’t anticipate spending almost seven years with [her].”
Beverly said, “Verity is non-verbal and non-ambulatory. She does nothing for our family.” What if my other children help me cook, clean, and do chores? She doesn’t do anything. She is a joy to me and my children.
They develop hearts of compassion.
