politics

No, Donald Trump. That's not how late-term abortions work.

Look out, pregnant women of America. Hillary Clinton will allow doctors “rip the baby” right out of you, according to Donald Trump. Right there from your uterus, within weeks of your due date.

Because apparently that’s how late-term abortions work.

The Republican nominee made the [insert outraged adjective of your choice] comment during today’s US presidential debate, as part of a discussion on US abortion law.

Just to demonstrate that we’re not exaggerating, this is exactly what he said:

“I think it’s terrible. If you go with what Hillary is saying, in the ninth month you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb of the mother just prior to the birth of the baby. Now you can say that’s okay, and Hillary can say that’s okay, but it’s not okay with me. Because based on what she’s saying … you can take the baby and rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month, in the final day, and that’s not acceptable.”

Yep.

donald trump late term abortion
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I'm just sayin... Image: Getty.

Before we even get started on how factually inaccurate and ignorant that is, let's take a moment on Secretary Clinton's response:

“That's not what happens in these kinds of cases. And to use that kind of scare rhetoric is just terribly unfortunate," she said.

"This is one of worst possible choices that any woman and her family has to make. And I do not believe the government should be making it. You know, I've had the great honour of travelling across the world on behalf of our country. I've been to countries where governments either forced women to have abortions, like they used to do in China, or forced women to bear children, like they used to do in Romania. And I can tell you the government has no business in the decisions that women make, with their families, in accordance with their faith, with medical advice. And I will stand up for that right."

While social media can be terrifying, it's quite useful in times like this. Because it means we have a platform for rebuttal by people who actually know what they're talking about.

You know, people with actual medical expertise.

So allow us to hand over to US-based OB/GYN and prolific Tweeter, Dr Jennifer Gunter, to clear some things up for Mr Trump.

As Clinton noted, late-term abortions are typically to save the mother or because the foetus is not compatible with life.

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They are horribly tragic, entirely voluntary, and make up just 1.3 per cent of the abortion procedures performed in the US.

Dr Gunter has performed many herself, as she discussed recently in a must-read post blog:

"Let’s be clear, if you are truly 'pro-life' you’d agree with these procedures because they save women. Not in an abstract way, but sometimes it is in a this-infection-is-killing-you-and-we-need-to-help-you-right-now kind of way.

"The one thing I’ve learned from my experience is that efforts to stop abortion after 20 weeks are nothing about life or compassion or good medicine, it is simply wielding the misery of women (and those who love them) as a political tool."

Trump has held a variety of opinions on the issue of abortion, even previously professing to be in favour of women's right to choose. But since his presidential campaign begun, the property tycoon has been vocal in his opposition.

While speaking on the topic in today's debate, Trump said that a reversal of Roe vs Wade - the US law legalising abortion - would occur "automatically" if he were elected, because of the views held by the Supreme Court Judges he would likely appoint. He would then like the law to be set state-by-state.

It's a hugely divisive issue in the US, as we could tell by the social media response to tonight's debate.

Polls currently have Clinton in front, with a 46 per cent average compared to Trump's 40.

The election will be held on November 8.

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