Ban partial birth abortion in Illinois. This is a life-ending and unnecessary procedure. Pre-born children are still children, living human beings. They deserve justice, not murder. The age of viability (when an infant has a strong chance of surviving outside the womb), is 24 weeks of pregnancy. If the mother does not wish to be a mother, adoption is a perfectly viable and reasonable option. There is no need for or medical benefit of abortion past 24 weeks of pregnancy in any situation. Late-term abortion includes increased risks to the mother as well, including future infertility, infection, massive bleeding, and even death. Not to mention the emotional and mental toll that abortion can, and often does, take on the parents for many years.

Adoption is a preferable alternative that allows the mother to cut all ties if desired and lets the child live.

Choose life. Partial birth abortion is murder. Every life has a right to protection. Including those not yet born.

quotes from doctors in the field (taken from https://lozierinstitute.org/questions-and-answers-on-late-term-abortion/):

“Most late term abortions are done for the same social reasons that earlier abortions are done.  Late- term abortions are much more dangerous for the mother than giving birth.  Late-term abortions involve much higher risk of death from the abortion procedure itself, as well as higher risk of perforating the womb, massive bleeding, and damage to the womb.  Late-term abortions are only safe for the abortionist, not for the mother, or her child. If a baby has died in the womb, the procedure is not an abortion. The purpose of an abortion is to kill the unborn child to ensure that the child is born dead.”

– Dr. Donna Harrison, M.D., Executive Director, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG)

“Women carrying children with life-limiting conditions need to be cared for in a way that not only maximizes maternal health, but also honors the life of their child.  Delivering a child intact and then administering the appropriate medical care for that child – whether that be palliative care or active treatment – is the medically appropriate and ethical thing to do.  This scenario is one that every OB/GYN faces.  Given that 85% of OB/GYNs do not perform abortions, third-trimester abortions do not need to be legal in order to optimally care for women and their children, no matter what the circumstances.

–  Christina Francis, M.D., Chair of the Board, AAPLOG

“There is never a reason to take the life of an unborn child since there is no maternal condition that requires the death of the fetus to save her life. The infant may need to be delivered prematurely and die as a result of that, but it is not necessary to take the infant’s life. Further, if a fetus has an adverse prenatal diagnosis all patients should be offered perinatal hospice care since this is far better for maternal health than any elective abortion. Perinatal hospice allows the parents to be parents and provide all the love they can for their child.”

  –  Dr. Byron Calhoun, perinatologist