I would want to see sources before taking a comment like this seriously. I used to live in one of the most regressive Islamic countries in the world (where abortion was absolutely not allowed), and my wife had zero issues aborting a pregnancy when it was found to be threatening her health. It was done within hours and without a single moment of controversy.
Do you have any case law to support this being a valid concern?
All the US states with abortion bans do have exceptions to save the life of the mother.
The particular issue is that currently it's an actual legal minefield for doctors in a number of those states due to vague definitions, over zealous prosecutors, and relatively tight time limits.
The permissible exceptions seem pretty clear to me. The claim that this is a “legal minefield” is one that should be substantiated. If that were true you should at least be able to provide a reference to a controversial prosecution.
> at least be able to provide a reference to a controversial prosecution.
Why? This is all relatively recent changes, there are doctors on record saying they've been unwilling to perform abortions for a variety of reasons and at risk of the mothers health.
That doesn't at all imply the necessity for the existence of a prosecution - but it does woman's health is suffering due to fear of prosecution.
An equally likely explanation is that these doctors are simply grandstanding and using the opportunity to stoke some moral panic. This is one of the most divisive political issues in the country, and the link you posted would support the claim that “some doctors are passionately unhappy about the change”. But if you want to claim that it’s a “legal minefield” then you should be able to offer some proof.
As far as I know there have been zero controversial prosecutions resulting from this change, so all you’ve managed to provide is somebody’s speculation that it might turn into a legal hazard at some time in the future. Given how massively politicised this issue is, I think it would be pretty stupid to just accept people’s baseless speculations as fact.
Going to have to jump in here, defrost. You did indeed claim it is a "legal minefield", only later to say "Well, actually, I meant this single, one paper claims that."
Hyperbole is what this paper likely is engaging in. It's certainly presenting a "worst case scenario" examination. And even if not, it's only presenting possible issues.
Issues which may or may not come up, and all of these states have differing legislation.
I did indeed accurately paraphrase the part of the brief that discussed the current legal status of medical abortion issues in some US states.
> only later to say "Well, actually, I meant this single, one paper claims that."
I certainly referred to that paper. I did not make the claim that you're asserting via paraphrasing my comment.
> Hyperbole is what this paper likely is engaging in.
In your opinion. An opinion you seem uncertain about. By my reading it presents as measured and as quoting the actual concerns of actual people.
> Issues which may or may not come up,
All the issues raised do indeed come up in real life - medical cases can get messy and mother | child health issues are not always as neat, well packaged, and clear cut as some seem to think.
There are always edge cases in any given state in any given month.
Don't take my word for it, go and ask several practicsing OBGYN's.
Do try and avoid the likes of Dr. Christina Francis & Co. who appear comfortable dodging and outright misleading the US Senate: https://youtu.be/T-5Gym8Mq1Y?t=104 & t=168
Sample size of 1. Did you do it legally? Could your wife do it alone without her male guardian forcing the issue? How do you know doctor's chances to get in trouble did not dramatically increase after?
Do you have any case law to support this being a valid concern?