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Forty Years After Roe v. Wade, Abortion Debate ContinuesAccess to abortions in Alaska is limited by small number of providersRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - Today marks the historic anniversary of a woman’s right to have an abortion. The U.S Supreme Court decision known as Roe v. Wade made legalized abortion the law of the land. That was in 1973, three years after Alaska had already legalized the procedure. But despite the years in which abortion has been legal, the debate continues over whether it should continue to be so in the future. Local right-to-life advocates say the anniversary is a reminder that their mission is far from accomplished. “Our primary objective is to end abortion in Alaska,” said Alaska Right to Life Executive Director Matt Johnson. “We are convinced this is a person, so we have to protect their inalienable rights just like we would anybody else.” Alaska has a lower abortion rate than the rest of the country, but some say it’s more a question of access. Some women have to travel great distances to be served by a dwindling number of providers. “The access issues are incredibly challenging for women in Alaska,” said Planned Parenthood’s Caitlin Hedberg. “Really, the right to have an abortion means nothing if you don’t have access to affordable and high quality abortions.” Planned Parenthood is one of very few abortion providers in the state. In Anchorage, theirs is one of just two clinics where a woman can go for the procedure. The other is to Dr. Colleen Murphy. “My services represent a failure of all those other things,” said Murphy, like education and access. Murphy said better contraception choices would result in fewer abortions, but that there will always be a need for the procedure. “When their contraception fails, they forget to use it, or if their pregnancy is a result of forced sex that they are able to get the care they need,” said Murphy. “Again, it’s not just about abortion, it’s about reproductive justice.” Both sides feel strongly on an issue that continues to divide, but for now, is the law of the land. Still, on the state level, there could be some changes ahead. Just today, North Pole Senator John Coghill announced he will introduce a bill to define the term “medically necessary” when it comes to abortion, which is the type the state is obligated to pay for with Medicaid dollars. |
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cooljulie said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 8:16 PM
When the right to life camp starts adopting unwanted babaies and paying for the pregnancy related medical care and the child's food, clothing, shelter and education, we'll have something to discuss.
111958151yo said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 12:16 AM
An aborted lib is a good lib. When the cooljulies of the world start thinking about personal responsibility, then we will have something to discuss. Until then we will just have potential leaders killed before they have a chance at life and people named Julie wanting free hand outs for their choices.
111966752cooljulie said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 8:27 PM
You make no sense yo! I said nothing about free handouts. These unwanted babies require a LOT of public assistance in their lifetime. THAT is a far bigger free handout than a paid for abortion. Are YOU contributing? Well, yes, we all are, through taxes. I think far more about personal responsibility than you probably do. Planned Parenthood advocates for women's health, for birth control, for sex education in schools. THAT is taking personal responsibility. Then we have the 'holier-than-thou' Palin clan, promoting abstinence and proving it doesn't even work in a (supposedly) stable christian home. I have worked since the age of 14, and have always supported myself. The conservatives who PRETEND to be responsible fight to prohibit abortion, then turn their backs on the unwanted babies once they are born. How do you sleep at night?
112044932Allan G said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 9:28 PM
Yo says "...we will just have potential leaders killed before they have a chance at life..." Yeah, like Hitler, Hussein, Bin Ladin, Mao, Kim Jong-il, Gaddafi... Thank god none of THEM were aborted at birth huh? Your logic, or whatever it is running your brain, is pretty strange.
112047572Susan said on Thursday, Jan 24 at 4:45 PM
Julie can you tell us about your abortion?
112111556cooljulie said on Thursday, Jan 24 at 11:37 PM
Never had one Susan, why do you make that assumption?
112129091Susan said on Friday, Jan 25 at 1:00 AM
Come on, tell us Julie.
112131831Great said on Friday, Jan 25 at 1:13 AM
Allan can predict the future and can pick and choose who can live and die. Allan, ty. Can you tell the ones that are going to kill the unborn which ones not to kill so that we can cure Aids and stupidity or are you just ranting?
112132142Susan said on Friday, Jan 25 at 1:17 AM
Julie. did you feel relief after, then later think what have I done, or just let it go? We would like to know. No one is judging you. Also is 9 months in a good time to abort or is there a limit? Just wondering. And what did you think of Sandy Hook? Was that too late?
112132272Tom said on Friday, Jan 25 at 1:41 AM
Julie is quite the expert on abortions and the effects on society. Why bring up Planned Parenthood? Hundreds of free clinics are advocates for women's health, for birth control, for sex education. Why is Planned Parenthood even mentioned? Dropping out of high school at 14 is nothing to be proud of Julie. Most children start work at 8, farms even younger, why mention dropping out to start with? How do you sleep at night with all that self pitty on your shoulders?
112132935cooljulie said on Friday, Jan 25 at 3:39 PM
WOW! What a clever group of clairvoyants here! You all know so much about me eh? I did NOT drop out of high school, and in fact have 2 masters degrees. I started WORKING at 14. Does nobody here have reading comprehension skills? Planned Parenthood is mentioned because the news item singles them out. And sorry Susan, but you are the loser in the guessing game. I have 3 healthy kids (one of whom was ADOPTED from an unprepared-to-be-parent mother) and never had an abortion. BUT- all our kids were planned and well provided for. I have no self-pity Tom, only pity for the christian right who cannot seem to separate fact from fiction. And please mention by name some of those 'hundreds of free clinics'. Finally, Tom & Susan, how many unwanted babies have you and your friends adopted? How many crack babies and babies with FAS and babies of homeless prostitutes? It's ok, you needn't reply, I already can guess the answer. Prove me wrong?
112190101Wow said on Friday, Jan 25 at 6:52 PM
You would think someone with 2 masters would be smarter.
112200891Allan G said on Saturday, Jan 26 at 12:12 AM
@Great- evidently the logic I was pointing out went right over your head. To imply (as Yo did) that abortion kills potential future leaders ignores the fact that those leaders could be good OR bad. Of course we can't predict the future! That was my point, but you only twisted the logical progression to fit your own thoughts, to be able to criticize. Abe Lincoln didn't get aborted, but neither did Hitler. Thus it's not a valid arguement against abortion. And that seems to be the problem- it's too much an emotional debate instead of an intelligent one. If you want to see ALL sides of the issue, open your mind and spend half an hour reading 'Personhood: is a fetus a human being?' on the web. It is a factual, non-emotional article examining all facets of abortion.
112213341Wrong reason said on Saturday, Jan 26 at 12:19 AM
I don't think Julie should have had an abortion to get two masters degrees. She could have still gone to school and had a child. With Russia not allowing US to adopt children, now there is an even bigger void for adults who want to adopt. I'm sure people were not going to Russia because it was easier to get a child there than the US. Julie if you get preg again, before you abort, try adoption. The people of the US will support you with more free housing food and medical. TY
112213551Why said on Saturday, Jan 26 at 12:27 AM
Why does Allan G want Lincoln to have been aborted? Racists? You want slavery to continue? Well it is still in full effect. Slaves had free housing, free food, free medical, etc. Libs today have free food, free medical, free housing, free phones, free daycare, free education, etc. The difference now is you are paying for it, where as before the slave owners paid. You are one sick person Allan. Going out on a limb here, Allan prob thinks blacks were the only slaves and US invented it. And that whites started slavery. Allan did you go to the same schools as Julie?
112213752I'll raise Julies next infant said on Saturday, Jan 26 at 12:54 AM
Julie before you abort more children, post somewhere. I'll raise him/her for you. Someone will.
112214266Anonymous said on Saturday, Jan 26 at 1:10 AM
Is everybody on drugs here????? I just read this article and all these comments, and can't quite comprehend why everyone is insisting Julie had an abortion (or plans to) or Allan thinks Lincoln should have been aborted or supports slavery. Weird. Really weird.
112214832@wrong said on Saturday, Jan 26 at 1:12 AM
If Julie can live with having her abortion she can deal with it without us helping save a life. Live or Die we pay for her kids.
112214882cooljulie said on Saturday, Jan 26 at 1:30 AM
So what, fine, I had an abortion. It was no ones business, I'm fine with it.
112215342yosusantomwowwhy said on Sunday, Jan 27 at 10:48 AM
Looks like ONE PERSON, pretending to be many, posting all the comments here, for their own amusement.
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