More Post-abortion denial

 I am going to pick and choose my sentences from this article from seattlepi.com by Sarah Prager.  I will admit up front that I am bias on this subject and this will read as such.  I encourage anyone to read the article in its entirety:

• Post-abortion syndrome doesn’t exist.

I’m so glad she cleared that up.  We can tell all the post abortive support groups they can go home now.

• There is a large body of medical literature proving that the majority of women who have abortions suffer no negative medical or psychological consequences.

There is also a large body of medical literature that states there is reason to believe there is suffering and more studies should be done.  Like this one from Spain which states “Some psychopathological characteristics are frequently observed in women who have voluntarily aborted…..Criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were met in the ten PAS cases studied. In addition, patients also showed other non-specific symptoms such as repeated and persistent dreams and nightmares related with the abortion, intense feelings of guilt and the “need to repair”. PAS should be considered as an additional type of PTSD.” 

• In fact, abortion is far more likely to alleviate a woman’s psychological angst than it is to cause it. Research by the American Psychological Association supports that claim, finding that 76 percent of women report feeling relief after abortion while only 17 percent report feelings of guilt.

How long did the APA follow their groups?  1 year, 2 year?  I don’t know, but many women that go to support groups did not have any major problems until many years later.  And why should we ignore the 17% that did have problems? Were the Vietnam Vets that were diagnosed with PTSD the majority?  I just love the hypocrisy of the Pro-Choice.  When it comes to defending abortion they always bring up the 1% of abortions from rape/incest and the 7% from health of Mother/fetal abnormalities but when it comes to something that may make abortion look bad 17% isn’t good enough for them.

• Most people feel best about their decisions when they are presented all their options and are able to freely make a choice as to what is right for them. Pregnant women who make informed decisions about abortion are no different, and usually feel just fine about their choice.

Is this why the Pro-Choice crowd is trying to stop legislation that would make it illegal for a doctor to refuse to show an ultra sound to the mother?  This is called informed?  I don’t think so.

•  There are always going to be a few women who regret their decision, just as women (and men) regret other decisions that are made. And there are many who may feel sadness or grief about their decision, while still knowing it is the right decision for them to make at that time.

Translation: Let’s just forget about the people suffering.  They aren’t important enough to worry about.  Other people have problems too.  These women should stop their whining and take responsibility for their “choice” even though it was me who told them they wouldn’t have problems.

• There are 1.3 million abortions performed every year in this country and one in four American women has at least one abortion while reproductively active. For the most part, those women continue to lead their lives without suffering from that decision.

Most people who have psychological problems suffer in silence, especially when “medical literatutre” says they aren’t suppose to be suffering.  I also want to do some math at this moment.  17% of 1.3 million is 221,000 people.  I guess that number isn’t high enough for Ms. Prager.  Not to mention any of the 1.3 million that weren’t on any poll or might be lying to themselves. 

How long did it take the psychiatric community to diagnose PTSD anyway?