When U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., recently proposed a 15-week federal abortion ban, he suggested that it could provide a reasonable compromise in the national debate over abortion. While Graham may speak of his ban as some form of political compromise, the only thing it actually would compromise is the health care of millions of women.
Here’s a real-life example:
One of our pregnant patients opted for early genetic screening at about 12 weeks of gestation, which involved a blood test and ultrasound. The screening showed very abnormal results, and the patient’s ultrasound suggested the fetus had a condition incompatible with life. This, understandably, was terribly distressing to the mother. She felt she had to consider terminating the pregnancy.
