Why TeleMed abortions should be halted

By Tom Quiner

Maggie DeWitte, Executive Director, Iowans for Life

I attended a rainy outdoors press conference this afternoon in Des Moines, Iowa, on a subject that will have national implications: TeleMed abortions.

For the uninitiated, TeleMed abortions are abortions that take place without a doctor physically present.  The doctor dispenses advice from afar via a computer screen. Planned Parenthood (PP) is the agency utilizing TeleMed abortions.  They’re using Iowa as their guinea pig with the hope of rolling it out nationally.

PP likes the idea of TeleMed abortions because of their profit potential.  Their costs are lower.  And it helps solve the growing problem in the abortion industry:  fewer doctors are willing to perform abortions regardless of the money.

With TeleMed, abortionists are able to leverage their time and increase their “productivity” be aborting more babies throughout the state on the same day.  This is the business model of the future for an industry running out of doctors.

Iowa Right to Life (IRTL) has warned about this procedure for a long time.  PP in their usual inimitable style called IRTL liars, claiming they only publish ideology, not truth. It turns out that it was PP who was being disingenuous all along.

A new issue has come up regarding TeleMed abortions.  Is it legal?  Iowa law mandates that a physician must perform an abortion.  In addition, FDA regulations state that RU-486 (the abortion pill used in TeleMed abortions) may only be used up to the seventh week of pregnancy.

PP is apparently in violation of both laws.

That leads us back to today’s press conference.  Leaders in the Pro-LIfe movement throughout the state of Iowa have asked the Iowa Board of Medicine to intervene and acknowledge that TeleMed abortions are in violation of existing standards.

In a letter to the Iowa Board of Medicine signed by 57 different groups, it was argued that “a physical examination never occurs by a licensed physician who is supposed to perform the abortion.”

By law, it’s supposed to.  The letter points out another concern:

“… the mother never sees her ultrasound, as it is privately e-mailed to the doctor at a different location.”

This is a big deal.  Nine out ten women who see an ultrasound of the baby in her womb change their mind and don’t go through with the abortion.  Is PP putting their patient first … or their profits?

Finally, the letter to the Iowa Board of Medicine points out the psychological implications of the TeleMed abortion:

” [PP abortionist] Dr. Tom Ross trivializes what happens at home as the “miscarriage experience.”  Anyone who has suffered a miscarriage will attest that it is emotional, traumatic, and can result in individuals being grief-stricken for a long time. [See article below.] To trivialize this is shameful.”

Jennifer Bowen, Executive Director, Iowa Right to Life

Speakers at today’s press conference included Maggie DeWitte, Executive Director ofIowans for Life, Jenifer Bowen, Executive Director for Iowa Right to Life, and Monsignor Frank Bognanno, pastor at Christ the King parish.  In addition, Kris Gaspari gave a heart-wrenching description of her life after having an abortion.  I have reproduced her remarks below and encourage you to read them in their entirety.

Ultimately, TeleMed can result in traumatic outcomes when unprepared mothers see the remains of their baby in the toilet.  Does she simply flush it? PP is used to discarding baby’s bodies everyday.  They’re okay with it.  It’s a critical source of their profits.

But it is devastating to a woman.

Let us hope the Iowa Board of Medicine intervenes to help end this unique form of exploitation of women in Iowa.  If they don’t, it will be coming to a state near you soon.