Why shouldn't abortion have legal consequences?

[Questioner2]

Greetings forum members,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

This thread prompted me to register for an account because I wanted to note exactly what Siegehammer has said above:

If abortion services were criminalized, the concern is very valid that women who miscarry would be subject to criminal investigation and charges. Because it is already happening.

alternet.org/civil-liberties/arrested-having-miscarriage-7-appalling-instances-where-pregnant-women-were

It is credible that the disturbing situation in El Salvador would come to pass here in the United States if abortion services were criminalized.

Without accusing any forum members of such, I think it is hard to refute that the aspects pro-life movement do seem to be animated by a distrust bordering on hatred of women.

 

[EleanorArr]

Greetings forum members,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

This thread prompted me to register for an account because I wanted to note exactly what Siegehammer has said above:

If abortion services were criminalized, the concern is very valid that women who miscarry would be subject to criminal investigation and charges. Because it is already happening.

alternet.org/civil-liberties/arrested-having-miscarriage-7-appalling-instances-where-pregnant-women-were

It is credible that the disturbing situation in El Salvador would come to pass here in the United States if abortion services were criminalized.

Without accusing any forum members of such, I think it is hard to refute that the aspects pro-life movement do seem to be animated by a distrust bordering on hatred of women.

Hello Questioner, welcome to the Forums

You do raise a very valid point. I suppose my reaction would be to see (and I don’t know the answer) what happened in the US before abortion was made legal?

I think the law would have to be applied in a positive way - assuming that any lost pregnancy was a tragic accident unless clear evidence suggested otherwise. A reason for not supporting the outlawing of abortion is that one cannot trust ideologically motivated politicians to write a good law which provides for it.

 

[Questioner2]

Hello EleanorArr and thank you for your welcome and reply.

(kind of scary to post for the first time)

If I remember, further upthread the topic of the pre-legal abortion era in the United States was mentioned. Apparently there was a mix of different laws depending upon State. Also, mostly practitioners were prosecuted under the criminal laws, although some women were as well.

Here’s a real world, recent example of how a woman might be prosecuted under a regime where abortion services are illegal: There was a recent case in Ireland, I believe, where a 19 year old woman was turned in by her roommates for procurring and using an abortificant drug. They did not feel she was sorry enough or something. I find that … concerning.

theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/08/northern-ireland-abortion-women-culture-suspicion-fear-prosecution-belfast

I grew up post RVWade, but I know that era is very much within living memory. I have read some accounts. Like now, abortion services were always available to those with the means for a private doctor, or to travel abroad. For the rest, there was an underground railroad of sorts to a black market which varied in safety.

Suffice it to say, I have concerns about the approach of criminalizing the procedure.

Thanks for reading.

 

[guanophore]

Greetings forum members,

Long time lurker, first time poster.

This thread prompted me to register for an account because I wanted to note exactly what Siegehammer has said above:

If abortion services were criminalized, the concern is very valid that women who miscarry would be subject to criminal investigation and charges. Because it is already happening.

alternet.org/civil-liberties/arrested-having-miscarriage-7-appalling-instances-where-pregnant-women-were

It is credible that the disturbing situation in El Salvador would come to pass here in the United States if abortion services were criminalized.

Without accusing any forum members of such, I think it is hard to refute that the aspects pro-life movement do seem to be animated by a distrust bordering on hatred of women.

Glad you came out of lurking!

The pro-life movement has never espoused punishing women as criminals. I do agree with you, though, on both counts, that legislation/penalties can be used wrongly to persecute women who are innocent (just have a miscarriage) and that doing it that way is potentially very abusive toward women.