as a new tactic, self-abortion taught

[niyad]

As New Tactic, Do-It-Yourself Abortions Taught
By GINA KOLATA
Published: October 23, 1989

Concerned that abortion rights may be curtailed by the courts or legislatures, scores of self-help groups around the country are teaching women how to perform abortions on themselves and each other.

Already, hundreds of women have given each other abortions or menstrual extractions in a revival of a technique that flourished in the late 1960's when abortions were illegal. Methods are being publicized in a videotape, articles, books, meetings and lectures.
. . . . .

Still, leaders of the self-help abortion movement say they want to insure that women can still obtain abortions if abortion rights are restricted. They also hope to influence the political debate over abortion, asserting that there is little point in imposing limits if women can ignore them and act on their own.

Above all else, they do not want to return to the days when abortions were all but unobtainable. ''We can never go back, never,'' said Lorraine Rothman, an Orange County, Calif., woman who is a leader in the self-help movement.

. . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/23/us/as-new-tactic-do-it-yourself-abortions-taught.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

[gkhouston]

1. I thought this was an old tactic...

Hideous that this sort of knowledge is becoming necessary again.

[niyad]

2. yes, this is an old tactic, something we hoped we would never need again, but here we are.

[hedgehog]

3. It sounds awfully risky to me.

[annabanana]

6. Clearly it's not on the par with a medical staff

in a hospital.. but it beats the alternatives if safe, legal abortions are no longer available.

[niyad]

7. but if you read the articles, you see that there are very few reported cases of problems, infections

or tearing of the uterine walls.

[sufrommich]

10. That's the point, I think. nt

[sufrommich]

4. Deja Vu.

nt

[niyad]

11. I really never thought we would be fighting these battles again.still, in the 21st century

[sufrommich]

12. Neither did I, it just goes to show that

the anti-women forces out there never really went away.

[dana_b]

5. Oct. 23 1989

well - sort of "new"?

[niyad]

9. the headline was that of the nyt

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. some women are stocking up on birth control pills (to take higher doses for pregnancy termination)

and Plan B pills.