The American Feminist

The American Feminist, Summer 1996

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Vetoed by Clinton

Despite widespread public support for a ban, President Clinton kept his promise to abortion advocates by vetoing the Partial-birth Abortion Ban (H.R. 1833) on April 10, 1996.

In a statement released by the White House press office, President Clinton explained why he felt it necessary to veto H.R. 1833: "By refusing to permit women, in reliance on their doctor's best medical judgment, to use this procedure when their lives are threatened or when their health is put in serious jeopardy, the Congress has fashioned a bill that is consistent neither with the Constitution nor with sound public policy.

"I have always believed that the decision to have an abortion generally should be between a woman, her doctor, her conscience, and her God. I support the decision in Roe v. Wade protecting a woman's right to choose, and I believe that the abortions protected by that decision should be safe and rare. Consistent with that decision, I have long opposed late- term abortions except where necessary to protect the life or health of the mother."

Pamela Smith, M.D., president of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told The American Feminist in an interview that this procedure has not passed peer review to determine if it is safe for women. Smith doubts that it could be found safe because the procedure is inherently dangerous to a woman, possibly damaging her cervix or rendering her infertile.

Before the House voted on the Senate version of the bill and sent it to the president for his veto, the House Judiciary Committee gave abortion proponents a chance to substantiate their controversial claims that anesthesia given to the mother during the abortion kills the fetus before she or he is stabbed in the head. The American Society of Anesthesiologists repeatedly rejected claims that anesthesia administered to the mother will kill the fetus, and provided highly credentialed witnesses. Rep. Charles Canady (R-Fla.), who chairs the Judiciary Committee, asked the anesthesiologists if any individual who disseminated the information had made an effort to clear it up.. None of the witnesses were aware of any attempts. Rep. Henry Hyde (R- Ill.) asked each anesthesiologist (including one who is an obstetrician) if the fetus feels pain. They all responded "yes," including one physician who elaborated that the fetus is capable of feeling pain at seven weeks.

In a letter to President Clinton, FFL Executive Director Serrin Foster asked him to reconsider his pledge to veto the legislation because he claimed to be concerned about putting women's health at risk by outlawing partial-birth abortion.

Foster asked, "Why would any doctor intentionally make a woman suffer through three days of forced labor if her health is at risk? If the doctor's purpose is to get the baby out as soon as possible because the pregnancy is affecting her health, then why would the doctor deliberately trap an infant's head in the womb, rather than complete the delivery and send the baby to the neonatal unit for care? If a woman is suffering from depression or stress how does three days of labor and a dead baby who was stabbed in the back of the head help lessen her anxiety?"

Finally, Foster stated FFL's belief that "abortion hurts women. We deserve better."