In a trial about the partial-birth abortion ban, Judge Arnold explains why he feels that a common late-term abortion technique called D&E (dilation and evacuation) where the baby is torn apart with forceps could be mistaken for partial-birth abortion,where the baby is extracted feetfirst and then killed by plunging scissors into the skull and suctioning the brain. Judge Arnold supports the kind of abortion he is describing:
“In a D&E procedure, the physician inserts forceps into the uterus, grasps a part of the fetus, commonly an arm or a leg, and draws that part out of the uterus into the vagina. Using the traction created between the mouth of the cervix and the pull of the forceps, the physician dismembers the fetal part which has been brought into the vagina, and removes it from the woman’s body. The rest of the fetus remains in the uterus while dismemberment occurs, and is often still living…”
Richard Smith “Candor and the Court: The Supreme Court will confront as never before the violent nature of mid-and late-term abortion” America April 1, 2000
Here is the result of this type abortion at 16 weeks – keep in mind that this procedure is legal in every state of the country and is performed hundreds of times a day:
