Biden’s New Abortion Ad: A Glaring Falsehood
The Latest Ad from President Joe Biden’s Reelection Campaign Misrepresents Texas Woman’s Pregnancy
The newest ad released by President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has come under scrutiny for distorting the facts surrounding a Texas woman’s pregnancy. According to a respected obstetrician-gynecologist in the state and an analysis of the woman’s own lawsuit, the ad mischaracterizes the situation to claim that her life was endangered by Texas’ abortion law.
The Story of Dr. Austin Dennard
The ad, titled “Forced,” revolves around the narrative of Dr. Austin Dennard, an OBGYN who made the decision to have an abortion after discovering that her unborn child had a fatal condition called anencephaly. This condition results in incomplete development of the baby’s brain and skull. In the ad, Dennard states that staying in Texas would have jeopardized her life, prompting her to travel to an east coast state with more lenient abortion regulations.
However, medical evidence does not support this portrayal of her case. While anencephaly is indeed a fatal condition for the baby, it does not pose significant risks to the mother’s life, as confirmed by Dr. Ingrid Skop, an experienced obstetrician-gynecologist practicing in Texas for over three decades.
Clarifying the Medical Facts
Dr. Skop emphasizes that anencephaly typically does not lead to life-threatening complications for the mother. Furthermore, Texas law permits abortions when the mother faces health complications that could impact her well-being.
According to Dr. Skop, “The fetal diagnosis itself does not put the mother at risk. While these are tragic conditions, they do not endanger the woman’s life. If the mother develops complications that pose a threat to her life, the law clearly allows medical intervention.”
Dr. Skop further asserts that Dennard’s claim of leaving Texas to protect her life is incorrect. In reality, Dennard chose to leave Texas because she wanted to terminate a baby with a life-limiting condition.
Facts from the Lawsuit
Since Dennard is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the state of Texas, the details of her case are part of the public record. The lawsuit solely mentions anencephaly as the reason for her decision to seek an abortion. It states that Dennard immediately desired an abortion upon learning of the diagnosis during her 11-week ultrasound and began exploring options in other states.
According to the lawsuit, “Dr. Dennard knew that due to Texas’ abortion bans, she would need to travel out of state. She promptly started researching her options and seeking advice from friends and colleagues. Eventually, she decided to travel to the east coast for her care.”
Neither the Biden campaign nor the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents Dennard in her lawsuit, have responded to requests for comment.
Supporting Evidence
A 2019 study conducted by the Journal of Clinical Medicine Research on anencephalic pregnancies that were not terminated found no instances of maternal deaths among the 28 pregnancies studied. Treatable complications were observed, with six cases developing polyhydramnios (excessive amniotic fluid) and only two requiring treatment. Vaginal delivery was successfully induced in 17 cases, with two instances of the baby’s shoulder getting stuck during delivery, likely due to reduced head size. However, both cases were resolved through routine maneuvers.
Reputable health resources, such as the Cleveland Clinic, also do not mention severe health risks associated with carrying an anencephalic baby.
Dr. Skop acknowledges that while anencephaly itself does not lead to severe complications, as with any pregnancy, life-threatening issues could potentially arise. In such cases, doctors are legally permitted to intervene to protect the mother’s life.
Manipulation of Tragic Cases
Skop believes that abortion advocates are exploiting rare and heartbreaking circumstances to undermine laws protecting unborn life. She asserts that 95% of abortions in the country are performed for financial and social reasons, and the cases where women put themselves at risk are not the fault of the law but rather the result of inadequate explanation of the law to doctors.
The Biden campaign is heavily emphasizing abortion as it prepares for a challenging reelection campaign. This includes the release of the nationwide ad featuring Dennard, Vice President Kamala Harris embarking on a “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, and Biden’s first campaign rally of the year centered on abortion rights.
The ad has been aired on women-centric television channels across the country, including during the season premiere of ABC’s The Bachelor, according to the Biden campaign.
The media has also extensively promoted the ad, with the New York Times echoing Dennard’s unverified claims that appear to contradict her own lawsuit. Reporter Lisa Lerer, in the midst of writing a “deeply reported examination” of the abortion debate, described the pregnancy as “dangerous” and asserted that it ”put her life at risk” in the headline and opening paragraph, without providing further explanation.
Lerer did not respond to a request for comment.
What are the implications of distorting facts about Texas’ abortion law in the campaign ad in terms of flexibility in shaping public opinion?
Flexibility.
This study supports Dr. Skop’s assertion that anencephaly does not pose a significant risk to the mother’s life. It highlights the fact that the condition can be managed without endangering the mother’s well-being.
The Implications of Misrepresentation
The misrepresentation of Dr. Austin Dennard’s case in President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign ad raises several concerns. Firstly, it undermines the credibility of the campaign and its commitment to presenting accurate information to the public.
Secondly, it contributes to the manipulation of public opinion surrounding Texas’ abortion law. By distorting the facts, the ad misleads viewers into believing that the law endangers the lives of pregnant women, when in reality, it allows for medical intervention when necessary.
Lastly, misrepresenting a real person’s experience in this manner is ethically questionable. It takes advantage of a woman’s tragic situation and uses it to advance a political agenda.
In conclusion, the latest ad from President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign misrepresents a Texas woman’s pregnancy to falsely claim that her life was endangered by Texas’ abortion law. Medical evidence and the details of the woman’s own lawsuit contradict the campaign’s portrayal of the situation. This misrepresentation undermines the campaign’s credibility, manipulates public opinion, and raises ethical concerns.
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