No Exceptions
Dear Editor,
The Indiana General Assembly must act soon to abolish abortion, without exceptions, in Indiana, and the Governor must sign the bill. To be consistent, there should also never be physician-assisted suicide in Indiana.
But, what about in cases “to save the life of the mother?” Words matter, so allow me to comment. An “abortion” has, as its primary goal, the killing of a baby. However, a “maternal-fetal separation” operation has as its primary goal the SAVING of TWO lives, the mother AND the baby. That is a massive difference in surgical technique and intent.
Medicine is a constantly evolving field. What colonial midwife could have imagined the techniques of obstetrics in 1973? What Hoosier in 1973 could have imagined neonatology in 2022? And, what wonders of technology will be present in 5, 10 or 50 years from now? Without a doubt, there will someday be an “artificial uterus” to support unborn babies.
Sadly, even with all of our current science and surgical techniques, not all babies in such situations will survive. But, physicians are duty bound to try and to keep trying, until such babies are saved. “Operation Warp Speed” was instituted for one medical condition, so why not for neonatology, which will save many more lives than some questionable anti-viral gene therapy?
Founder James Otis, Jr. often opined, in 1761, that those who oppose liberty do so for one or more of three basic reasons (I paraphrase): “Pragmatism, Malice or Ignorance.” Hoosiers, what are the motivations of your representative, senator and governor?
Abortion is killing and should be abolished without exception. When the life of the mother is in peril, maternal-fetal separation, narrowly defined, is a potential dual life-saving surgical procedure, and research and technique development should be encouraged. Both the born and the unborn are, from the moment of conception, created in the image of God, and, as such, are all equally worthy of life.
Christopher Magiera, M.D.
Warsaw