Frank Lautenberg: “Someone has the knowledge, intelligence, and experience making the decision, as opposed to a graphic demonstration that…”

“Someone has the knowledge, intelligence, and experience making the decision, as opposed to a graphic demonstration that says this is the way we are going to do it. Mr. President, I would just like to make a few other comments about this bill. When the Senate originally considered this bill, it failed to pass the Boxer amendment. That amendment would have created an exception to the ban on late term abortions, where necessary to "avert serious adverse health consequences to the woman." As a result, if a doctor expects that a woman would otherwise become permanently disabled, sterile, or seriously impaired, under this bill, the doctor would still be prohibited from performing this procedure. A doctor would have to feel absolutely certain that carrying a fetus to term would endanger the life of the mother, or the doctor could not provide the medical services to avoid this consequence. Mr. President, this issue is a question of trust. Do you trust politicians to make complicated medical decisions affecting women's lives? Or do you trust medical experts consulting with families? This bill says: politicians know best. I say: let's trust the doctors and the families. Mr. President, let me say that I know there are many Americans who feel very strongly about the issue of abortion. It's a deeply personal and emotional issue, on both sides. I have the greatest respect for many of our citizens who hold different views on this matter.”