It seems curious that if I was 28 weeks pregnant and presented to my doctor saying there was no way I wanted to continue with the pregnancy, the doctor would not be able to refer me for termination unless I met the restrictive criteria which have been outlined. It would be assumed I had an obligation to the fetus because it was potentially viable and I had passed the point of viability. I therefore would be compelled to maintain its life and deliver the child. In contrast I have a two year old, and if he suddenly became ill, and needed me to donate an organ to survive, I would probably consider myself a heniously immoral woman if I did not concede to that demand. However there is no law in the land that could oblige me to do so. In effect we impose greater obligation to women to preserve the life of their fetuses than we impose to preserve the life of their born children.
In abortion law we are therefore distinctly privileging the life of the fetus over the wishes of the woman in a way we do not do in any other form of medical practice. I would therefore argue that the current abortion law is ethically inconsistent in the way it permits abortion in some circumstances but not in others and that it in denying abortion it undermines the basic principle of individual autonomy which is accepted in the rest of medical practice.
In this article, the term "feticide" is used to refer to the killing of a fetus, as occurs during abortion or miscarriage. I greatly dislike this term, for it seems to equate "feticide" with words like "genocide" or "homocide," which are inarguably crimes more heinous than the taking of a life of something parasitic and incapable of conscious thought.
This is dangerous. The article itself is about the House of Virginia passing a law that makes "feticide" a class 4 felony. In Virginia, a class 4 felony means 2-10 years of imprisonment and up to $100,000 in fines. Also a class 4 felony in Virginia: rape/sexual assault and statutory rape, so you get the idea to the sort of moral standards its being equated to -- funny that it's with laws that supposedly exist to protect women. Basically, this means that in the eyes of the Virginia law, a woman trying to terminate a pregnancy gets the same punishment as a child molester. Sound a little crazy to you?
This is not to mention the fact that, according to the famous Roe vs. Wade, "feticide" is a constitutional right. Never has the constitution been interpreted by the US Supreme Court to say rape was a constitutional right, but, hey, no one really knows what the fore fathers were thinking when they wrote it!
For those with limited access or no access at all to abortion, apparently there is a method of "home abortion" that involves taking mass quantities vitamin C and inserting parsley deep into the vagina ever 12 hours for three days, according to Angry for a Reason.
I have used this to positive results 3 times. Given the lack of access to bc and abortion in much of the US I would like to share this with all of you. Copy it, pass it around, send it to your friends. It is cheap and accessible to all. Obviously if there are any health problems or adverse side effects contact a doctor. My friends and I have used this with very little complications, but I just want to put that disclaimer out there as all bodies are different and yours may react differently then ours. Feel free to ask a natropath/herbalist/physician/gynaecologist.
It can only be used up to 3 weeks after a missed period, but the sooner the better. I've done it within the first week of missing my period and it's always brought it back for me. The best time to start it is on the 1st or second day of the missed period.
You will need:
Fresh parsley (preferably organic...I don't want pesticides in my vagina, so I go organic)
500 mg pills/capsules of Vitamin C (DO NOT get pills with Bio-favinoids such as Rose Hips. These PREVENT miscarriage.)The treatment can last 3 days: DO NOT EXCEED 3 DAYS!! This will work or not within 2/3 days.
1. Insert a fresh sprig of parsley as far as possible into the vagina. (parsley induces contractions, yum) Change every 12 hours. When soft, it may be difficult to remove, but this is not dangerous.
2. At the same time, drink parsley infusions. 2 to 6 tablespoons 4 times a day.
Making an infusion: use 2 1/2 cups of boiling water for every ounce of parsley (If you buy it at the store, minus 2/3 stems (for sprigs) this should be the amount of water used to make the tincture). Add parsley to boiling water, remove from heat and cover. Very important that you remove from heat IMMEDIATELY upon adding the parsley. Boiling the water with the parsley in there will make the infusion less effective. Let it steep for at least 20 minutes (the longer it steeps, the more potent it will be. I usually let it steep for 2 hours.
3. During the 3 days (or until your period starts) take high doses of Vitamin C orally. Ideally, take 500 mg every hour up to 6000 mg. You can continue using the Vitamin C for up to 6 days. Vitamin C can bring on menstruation even 3 weeks after a "late" period. you can begin taking Vitamin C immediately after unsafe sex, or if the condom broke, etc.
If successful you should start to bleed in 2 to 3 days.
Notes:
-You may have cramps (I get 'em bad after doing this) and you can take whatever you usually take for cramps or make a ginger infusion and take that.
-The chances of success are less if you regularly take high doses of Vitamin C
-High amounts of Vitmain C can cause loose stools. No one I know has experienced this, but is has been known to happen.
-Do not use if you have kidney problems.I've often noticed that on the second night I start emanating heat. Seriously I feel like a space heater. This is ok, it's just a side effect of the high doses of Vit. C and to me signifies that it worked and I will get my period soon (generally that night/next morning)
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES USE PENNYROYAL. IT IS DEADLY AND DANGEROUS. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, DO NOT DO NOT, DO NOT USE IT!!!
(Note: Please follow the link and do your research before attempting this yourself.)