Friday, February 17, 2012

Post-Abortion Syndrome... take the abortion doc's word for it


The abortion rights movement routinely denies that abortion has any negative or dangerous physical and psychological effects. We as pro-lifers know that this is not true, that abortion leaves countless physical and emotional scars. Thousands are speaking out about the effects that abortion had on them, and we have no idea how many who have been hurt are NOT speaking out.

Broadly categorized, the mental and psychological problems caused by abortion are known as Post-Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS) or Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS). PAS, although not recognized by the American Psychological Association (because that would not be politically correct), is a very real form of trauma which has many symptoms in common with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is like a specific form of PTSD. Some symptoms are: extreme depression, feelings of guilt and anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, nightmares, flashbacks, phobias of things such as the sound of a vacuum cleaner or medical facilities, difficulty with relationships, eating disorders, feelings of numbness, desire to have another baby to replace the aborted child, over-protectiveness or overindulgence of future children to make up for the abortion, inability to function around babies or pregnant women, self-injury, suicidal thoughts, etc.

The pro-choice movement goes to great lengths to discount PAS. The websites of organizations such as the Guttmacher Institute (the research arm of Planned Parenthood), Feminists for Choice, National Abortion Federation, National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), etc. all do their part to debunk the anti-choice myth of PAS. I suppose they think pro-lifers enjoy making this stuff up for fun?

I was recently privileged to take a look at an abortion procedure consent form that somebody retrieved from a local abortion clinic. The following is a selection from it (emphasis mine):

“My physician has fully explained the risks, and drawbacks involved as well as the possibility of complications from the procedure, including but not limited to possible; perforations of the uterus, incomplete termination of the pregnancy, removal of the uterus and/or ovaries, difficulty in future pregnancies, post abortion syndrome, cervical laceration, adverse reactions to medicines or anesthesia, absence of menstruation, pain and cramps, excessive bleeding, psychological problems and infection, and the benefits of the procedure. We have also discussed alternatives including no treatment; to the procedure along wit those risks and benefits. I am aware that no guarantee or assurance as to the results of the procedure have been made and I have been told that no guarantee of results could be made. By signing this consent, I agree that all the foregoing has taken place to my satisfaction.”

I'd say they have their bases covered, wouldn't you? The list isn't quite comprehensive, but it's pretty good. They even go beyond “post abortion syndrome” to also list “psychological problems” (though I'm not sure why the latter is grouped with infection).

There you have it, folks... even abortion clinics know that PAS exists. I wonder if NARAL would take their word over ours.

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