While there are staunch proponents and opponents of abortion rights on both sides of party lines, the subject of abortion brings up mixed feelings among many Americans, myself included. The decision to terminate a pregnancy for most women is a difficult one. With that being said, Donald Trump needs more training on the nuances of reproductive health.
To say that physicians are “ripping babies out” two to three days before birth is both reckless and ridiculous. One can argue that Trump is not a physician or a medical professional and that’s not his area of expertise. However, he is running for president of the United States, and this is an issue that is part of his campaign — one that has been asked about previously.
{mosads} When seeking to enact policy and to make decisions for millions of Americans, you have to be knowledgeable, factual and objective about the subject with which you are dealing.
There are times when termination of the pregnancy is necessary, such as when the pregnancy endangers the mother’s health or if the fetus has malformations that are incompatible with life. There are other times when it’s exclusively elective. Either way, it is my belief that these decisions should be legislated with care, in consultation with the physician and the conscious choice of the woman, not Congress.
Hillary Clinton has remained a supporter of Roe vs. Wade and argues to protect the reproductive rights of women. Trump intends to repeal Roe vs. Wade and appoint anti-abortion judges if elected. As someone who has struggled with the issue of abortion, I respect each candidate’s right to have their own position and their own belief based on their own convictions.
“Now, you can say that that is OK and Hillary can say that that is OK, but it’s not OK with me. Because based on what she is saying and based on where she’s going and where she’s been, you can take baby and rip the baby out of the womb,” Trump said. “In the ninth month. On the final day. That’s not acceptable.”
He concluded, “Nobody has business doing what I just said. Doing that as late as one or two or three or four days prior to birth. Nobody has that.”
This is an excerpt from the third and final debate, a quote from the Republican presidential nominee, in reference to abortions and in defense of why he is against abortion rights and wants the repeal of Roe vs. Wade.
Someone needs to educate Trump. That’s not how abortion works, that’s not how any of this works. The missing information that Trump needed is the definition of late-term abortion, which describes a termination of pregnancy in the second trimester.
This is usually done between 14 to 20 weeks — rarely around 24 weeks. Later-term abortions only make up 8 percent of abortions worldwide. In fact, most abortions are done at less than 8 weeks’ gestation and each state has specific laws as to how late an abortion can occur, most citing 18-20 weeks.
For Trump to not know the basics of something he is so strongly against and to confidently speak with such error is frightening. The most important thing learned in medical school about being a great doctor is to know what you don’t know and be free to ask questions. Someone should teach Trump this strategy.
Dr. Lisa Ashe serves as the medical director of Be Well Medical Group, a leading concierge medicine and wellness group currently serving the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia metro areas.
The views expressed by contributors are their own and not the views of The Hill.