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Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall and the Increased Rate of Disabilities after Abortion

Washington, D.C. (23 February 2010) –The following is a statement from American Life League president Judie Brown regarding Delegate Bob Marshall’s recent comments on the increased rate of disabilities in children born to mothers who have had previous abortions.

“American Life League salutes Virginia Delegate Robert Marshall.  He is a tireless human rights advocate who has dedicated his entire life to recognizing the personhood of all human beings – including preborn babies and those with disabilities – two groups whose lives are constantly threatened by the abortion lobby.

“Bob may have used a poor choice of words at an event to defund Planned Parenthood – the nation’s largest purveyor of abortions – but his remarks have been twisted out of context, a tactic which takes focus off the truth in an effort to brand Marshall as the enemy of the disabled. 

“And the truth is clear: there is an undeniable link between abortion and increased risk of disabilities in the children of women who have had abortions.

“The link between abortion and preterm birth for future pregnancies has been documented countless times yet seldom reported on. In September 2009, Dr. Prakesh Shah released a meta-analysis in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology using data from 37 published studies.

“The Shah meta-analysis found that one induced abortion increases the risk for preterm birth in a subsequent pregnancy by 36 percent. Two or more induced abortions increases that risk by 93 percent. One induced abortion increases the risk of low birth weight by 35 percent, and more than one induced abortion increases that risk to 72 percent.

“The Mayo Clinic reports that complications of preterm birth may include:

Difficulty breathing
Episodes of stopped breathing (apnea)
Bleeding in the brain (intracranial hemorrhage)
Fluid accumulation in the brain (hydrocephalus)
Cerebral palsy and other neurological problems
Vision problems
Intestinal problems
Developmental delays
Learning disabilities
Hearing problems

“We hope that those decrying Delegate Marshall’s statement are as horrified by the effects of abortion as they are by their perception of the words Delegate Marshall used to describe them. Abortion has major, undeniable consequences – one of which is the danger it poses to the future brothers and sisters of children killed by abortion.”

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to death.  For more information or press inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.

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