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Chicago Catholic hospital helps women who wish to halt 2nd-trimester abortions

CWN - February 09, 2011

Working with pro-life activists, Resurrection Medical Center, a Catholic hospital in Chicago, has adopted the policy of offering immediate emergency care to women who have begun to have a second-trimester abortion but change their mind.

A second-trimester dilation-and-extraction abortion may take two or three days. On the first day, the cervix is dilated; on the second or third day, the unborn child is killed when it is removed from the womb with a vacuum. Forceps and a curette are used to remove the remaining tissue of the child from the womb. An estimated 11% of the nation’s abortions-- nearly 150,000 per year-- take place in this manner.

The hospital’s policy assists women after the first day of the procedure by removing the dilator in the hopes of allowing the continuation of pregnancy. “Abortion providers worry that anti-abortion activists are pushing a woman to pursue a rare and uncharted medical procedure that heightens risks during pregnancy for both the woman and the fetus and could result in premature labor or miscarriage,” the Chicago Tribune reports.

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Show 3 Comments? (Hidden)Hide Comments
  • Posted by: hartwood01 - Feb. 10, 2011 12:59 PM ET USA

    Can't imagine they're associated with Sr.Keehan's group.

  • Posted by: samuel.doucette1787 - Feb. 09, 2011 10:19 PM ET USA

    Praise God! My father-in-law received excellent and compassionate care for colon cancer 4 years ago at this hospital, and it heartens me even more to know that they are walking the pro-life walk. They are a Catholic hospital worthy of the name Catholic.

  • Posted by: Bigs2480 - Feb. 09, 2011 9:07 AM ET USA

    “Abortion providers worry that anti-abortion activists are pushing a woman to pursue a rare and uncharted medical procedure that heightens risks during pregnancy for both the woman and the fetus and could result in premature labor or miscarriage..." Not sure how stopping an abortion heightens the risk for the fetus...

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