The sick, sad world of abortion

Dawn's got a couple of great (as usual) posts about abortion. First, the bizarre and disgusting practice of baptizing aborted babies. Gee, could we be any more blasphemous? Second, if you're in search of medical care for a serious pregnancy complication, don't bother looking to Planned Parenthood. Yeah, they really are concerned with the health of the mother...

UPDATE: Regular reader and commentator Brandon decided to chime in:

I'm [sic] don't understand why it's so awful that they don't do prenatal care.

Well, let's see... You're (speaking in general terms and not about you specifically, Brandon) a woman who is reproducing... and PP's mission is to promote reproductive health... Hrm... I just don't know what I was thinking in criticizing them.

It's not part of their core mission, which is to help someone "manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence." Managing fertility does not include prenatal care.

Cute. As if that's all their mission statement says. Here's the entire first section of their mission statement. I've highlighted (with larger, bolded text) the relevent part.

Planned Parenthood's mission statement

Planned Parenthood believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual's income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence. We believe that respect and value for diversity in all aspects of our organization are essential to our well-being. We believe that reproductive self-determination must be voluntary and preserve the individual's right to privacy. We further believe that such self-determination will contribute to an enhancement of the quality of life, strong family relationships, and population stability.

Based on these beliefs, and reflecting the diverse communities within which we operate, the mission of Planned Parenthood is:

* to provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of each individual;

* to advocate public policies which guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services;

* to provide educational programs which enhance understanding of individual and societal implications of human sexuality;

* to promote research and the advancement of technology in reproductive health care and encourage understanding of their inherent bioethical, behavioral, and social implications.

"[T]o provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services." Read that again. "[T]o provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services." Wouldn't prenatal care fall under that? If not, why not?

Other thing not included in their mission: optometry, preventative care for obesity management, pediatrics, etc.

Don't be obtuse, Brandon. It's unflattering.

Things that are included in their mission: birth control, disease prevention, disease testing, pregnancy testing, adoption, etc.

Obviously, if you are going to keep your baby, they don't give a flying fig about your health.

In other words, they are not Walmart; there are some things that they don't offer.

There you go being obtuse again. They don't have to be Walmart. They just have to show that they truly care about the health of women.

Now, the best for last. This is the coup de grâce, Brandon. Both PP and you are completely and utterly discredited by this. Take a look:

PlannedParenthood.org: Health Services

What health services do Planned Parenthood health centers offer?

Each Planned Parenthood affiliate is a unique, locally governed health service organization that reflects the diverse needs of its community. Planned Parenthood health centers offer a wide range of services that may include

* family planning counseling and birth control

* pregnancy testing and counseling

* gynecological care, Pap tests, breast exams

* emergency contraception

* HIV testing and counseling

* medically accurate sexuality education

* screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections

* infertility screening and counseling

* voluntary sterilization for women and men

* reproductive medical exams for men

* safer sex counseling

* midlife services

* abortions or abortion referrals

* prenatal care

* adoption referrals

* primary care

* referrals for specialized care

Now, this woman is in Bryn Mawr, PA, which is just outside of Philadelphia. Here's a map of Planned Parenthoods in that area:

Google Maps: Planned Parenthood locations around Philadelphia

There's a lot of them. Are we to believe that not one of them provides pre-natal care in that major metropolitan area? Or perhaps she went to one PP clinic and they failed to refer her to another PP clinic in the area that does provide prenatal care? I find myself with an extreme lack of credulity regarding either of those possibilities and I cannot see any others.