Originally Posted by dy156

Doctors that might be making a decision about whether to abort a third-term pregnacy are faced with an extremely complex problem. Maybe it's not clear cut that the situation is life threatening, but the risk to the mother is great, and the probability of a healthy child is very slim. In that case, I'd place my trust in a doctor to make those tough calls. The doctor has not only been through education, both lengthier and more rigorous, than that of most legislators, Congressmen, and judges lack in the field, but has also worked ungodly hours in their specialty to give them experience upon which to base their decision and rely. They have at their disposal sophisticated sonogram and other medical equipment, and the state of the art will always outpace legislation governing it. I've had friends who have had stillborn children, and thankfully the mother was in no danger. But I'd rather leave every option open to the doctors that specialize in that area of medicine. The recent story about the mkother that had advanced cancer, but was kept alive so that she could deliver a baby was heart warming. But what if the situation were reversed? A mother with a severe disease was about to give birth to a baby that would likely have little chance of survival. It's a tough call, and in the gray area of what is right, but I'd rather a specialist doctor make that tough call than a politician.

I'm against the partial birth abortion ban, but I question any "conservative" that contradicts me and places more trust in lawmakers and judges than doctors in their support of it.