THIRD TERM ABORTION

GONZALES v. CARHARTAPRIL, 2007

METHOD

• D & E [DILATION AND EVACUATION]• COMMON IN 2ND TRIMESTER• REMOVAL OF FETAL TISSUE• BREAK UP OF FETUS (10-15 PASSES)

• D & X [DILATION AND EXTRACTION]• “INTACT” D & E• REMOVAL OF BODY PAST NAVEL TO HEAD• REMOVAL OF BRAIN TO REDUCE SIZE OF

SKULL• MEDICAL JUDGMENT• “SAFER” FOR THE MOTHER

Congressional Act“Partial-Birth Abortion Act” (2003)

• METHOD OF ENDING FETAL LIFE• DELIVERY OF LIVING FETUS

• HEAD ONLY (INTO THE CERVEX)

• TRUNK ONLY

• GRUESOME AND INHUMAN PROCEDURE• NEVER MEDICALLY NECESSARY

(DISPUTED)• MOTHER’S HEALTH EXCEPTION

SUPREME COURT HOLDINGS I

• NO UNDUE BURDEN ON RIGHT OF MOTHER TO ABORTION.• PROTECT LIFE OF MOTHER AND FETUS• STRUCTUAL MECHANISM TO EXPRESS

PROFOUND RESPECT FOR FETAL LIFE• DELIVERY TO A SPECIFIC ANATOMICAL

LANDMARK• NAVEL• INTENTION TO KILL• PERVERTS THE BIRTH PROCESS• UNDERMINES PUBLIC’S PERCEPTION OF

PHYSICIAN’S ROLE

SUPREME COURT HOLDINGS II

• ABORTION NOT INVOLVING PARTIAL DELIVERY IS PERMITTED

• DOES NOT PROHIT D & E• REMOVAL OF FETUS IN PIECES• ALLOWS INJECTION INTO FETUS TO DELIVER

A DEAD, RATHER THAN, LIVE FETUS• PRECLUDES LIABILITY FOR

“ACCIDENTAL” INTACT D & E• PROTECTING HUMAN LIFE FROM BRUTAL

AND INHUMANE PROCEDURE• PROTECT THE MEDICAL COMMUNITIES’

ETHICS AND REPUTATION

SUPREME COURT HOLDINGS III

• TANTAMOUNT TO KILLING NEWBORN INFANT

• INFORMATION TO MOTHER• REGRET THE DECISION?

• CONTESTED FACTUAL RISK TO MOTHER• D & E IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE