Bill That Would Prevent Dismemberment Abortion Passes In House Committee [Graphic Language]

Some of the testimony that was presented before the House Health and Welfare Committee that was debating a bill that would ban second trimester abortions using forceps in the state of Louisiana left little to the imagination. In fact the comments reported by the Louisiana Radio Network are quite graphic and may be unsettling for some readers.

Lafayette Doctor Damon Cudihy gave very graphic testimony before the House Committee about what actually occurs when a fetus is aborted and the attending physician uses forceps to complete the procedure.

Once you have grasped something inside, squeeze on the clamps to set the jaws and pull hard, really hard. You feel something, let go, and out pops a fully formed leg about six inches long.

Dr. Cudihy went on to explain to lawmakers that the idea that the fetus does not feel pain during the course of this procedure is inaccurate. In probably the most graphic of the doctor's testimony was the description of the removal of the head of the fetus.

The head of a baby that age is now about the size of a large plum and is now free floating inside the uterine cavity. You will know you have it when you crush down on the clamp and see white gelatinous material coming through the cervix, that was the baby’s brain.

There was opposition to the legislation. The points were made by Ellie Schilling a pro-choice attorney who suggested that the measure would be declared unconstitutional if passed.

This law would impose an undue burden on a woman seeking a second trimester abortion.

Schilling told lawmakers that the use of forceps was the most common method for physicians who performed second trimester abortions. Eliminating the procedure would impose serious health risks to the woman involved and would also create confusion in the medical community.

So because of that, it will be difficult for physicians to interpret and could lead to even more uncertainty as to whether physicians in the state will perform second trimester abortions, at all.