Abortion: conflicts and choices
Re “Offering Abortion, Rebirth,”
Column One, Nov. 29
What a profoundly sad and depressing article. Contrary to Dr. William F. Harrison’s assertion that he keeps children from coming into the world unwanted, the vast majority of babies in the womb are very much wanted -- wanted by couples that are unable to conceive on their own.
Perhaps if his patient, Sarah, devoted nine months of her life to delivering a healthy child to be loved and nurtured by others, it might occur to her in the future to bother with birth control. Perhaps if Stephanie (she of four abortions in 12 years) did the same, it might help her to “remember” her birth control pills or choose another option. Abortion is a “bummer” indeed.
By his own estimate, Harrison has ended 20,000 lives in the womb. He seems inordinately proud of that fact.
KYDA SYLVESTER
Auburn, Calif.
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I applaud and commend the moral and humanistic fiber of Dr. William Harrison.
He is absolutely correct in considering the actual life of the woman or girl as paramount over the life of the unborn fetus (not child).
Would only that such wisdom and expertise have been available to me in 1954 when, as a 17 1/2 -year-old high school senior, I found myself facing a pregnant girlfriend and a hasty marriage, events that changed my life and foreclosed my options -- and facing all of these “no choices” all alone.
God bless you, Dr. Harrison, for the work that you do!
TOM PONTAC
Seal Beach
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Your article raises some disturbing questions about the ethical principles guiding the decision to abort.
Abortion is acceptable because (1) it’s legal; (2) it frees the mother from the duties of motherhood; (3) the mother feels it is necessary; (4) it is easier to abort than to place for adoption; (5) everyone’s doing it; (6) if the life doesn’t look human, it’s not human.
The scientific fact is that the DNA of a fetus is a complete and unique blueprint of human life. In the end, the various reasons reduce to this: Women abort because they can.
FRANK PRAY
Aliso Viejo