Late-term abortions must not be the only choice

I BELIEVE Paula Grisafi misunderstood Senator John McCain when he put finger quotes around the word "health" when talking about abortion in the last debate ("Joe the plumber and Jane Roe," Letters, Oct. 17). What McCain was probably referring to is the fact that the concept of the mother's health has been used as an excuse for late-term abortions, including such vague diagnoses as anxiety and mental distress. It is also a fact that legitimate late-term abortions for the mother's health are rare, and almost always can be accomplished by a C-section that would allow the child to live, which would be faster and safer for the mother.

Many conservatives, like me, are against Roe v. Wade because it is an abuse and misapplication of our Constitution, not because we are against women's choice under the right circumstances. Those circumstances include that abortion not essentially be a form of birth control when there are many other options that don't kill a human being, and that the procedure be limited to the first trimester.

Late-term abortions are brutal and barbaric. How can we, as a civilized, moral society, allow such a thing when there are more humane options?

Dr. RYAN SEARLE
Amesbury