Secondly, most of Ms. Malkin's sources for the botched abortion cases are pro-life groups. For anyone who has ever read pro-life materials, it is well-known that most exaggerate or embellish facts relating to abortion. Simply look at www.prolife.com to see such claims as birth control pills cause abortion and abortion causes breast cancer. This is not to say these botched abortions did not occur, but like any medical procedure, nothing is ever 100% safe. Serious complications and/or death can just as easily result from gastric-bypass surgery, open-heart surgery, or any type of surgical procedure for that matter.

Also, even if abortion became illegal, the number of abortions performed would not change. Two reports published by MSNBC and the International Herald Tribune state that the amount of abortions performed in countries where it is legal and countries where it is illegal are about the same. The difference is that illegal abortions are extremely unsafe, done by untrained individuals in unsanitary environments, drastically increasing the risk of death or long-term complications.

This being said, I suggest Ms. Malkin refocus her efforts on combating the things that lead women to get abortions in the first place. Lack of access to birth control, poverty, and lack of sex education are just a few of the things that plague our country and lead to unwanted pregnancies. Fighting these issues would help America at large and, in turn, lead to a decrease in the number of women seeking abortions.

Heather Frost
Spring Garden Township