Abortion health and safety checklist

1. Make sure you are really pregnant.

A positive urine test does not always mean you have a viable pregnancy that will result in a live birth. Be sure to have a blood test followed by an ultrasound to confirm that you have a viable intrauterine pregnancy. Ask to see the ultrasound to be sure. The doctor should be able to show you the heartbeat on the monitor.

2. Explore your choices with an agency that will not profit financially from your decision.

Do not confirm your pregnancy at an abortion facility. Avoid abortion providers that indicate they provide pregnancy options counseling but only promote abortion as the better choice.

3. Be careful if the abortion clinic of your choice is "stuffed" with clients.

It is likely that the clinic is operating "assembly line" style. This does not allow the physician to take the time to know you, your specifi c situation, and your health concerns. You should have a chance for an unhurried conversation with the doctor who will be performing the abortion before you get on the operating table.

4. Make sure the clinician takes a detailed health history.

Many important factors can affect the safety of the procedure for you, including past pregnancies, blood type, family history, circulatory disorders, etc. The clinic should screen for sexually transmitted diseases prior to the abortion as an untreated STD can cause PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), that can lead to infertility or worse.

5. Insist on knowing the name and credentials of the person performing the abortion.

To protect your interests in case of injury, know your abortion provider's name! Make sure he or she is a licensed, board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist.

6. Check to see if the abortion center is a licensed medical clinic.

Abortion facilities are not required by law to be licensed clinics and therefore are not required to provide the standard of medical care that women deserve and expect. Several local abortion providers have malpractice judgments pending due to substandard care and/or patient injuries.

7. Understand that abortion is a surgical procedure.

Abortion is an unnatural medical intervention and carries inherent risks. Avoid any provider that does not fully explain your health risks. These risks include:

• Ectopic pregnancies
• Premature delivery of subsequent babies
• Breast cancer
• Emotional distress

8. You may demand your money back, if you change your mind — even is you're already on the table.

If you are feeling uneasy about your decision or the facility you have chosen, you have the right to leave at any time, requesting and expecting a full refund.

9. Understand your legal rights before and after your abortion.

Some abortionists insist that patients sign a statement saying they will not hold the clinic or the doctor liable for damages in case of injury. However, this document has virtually no legal authority. If you are physically or emotionally injured by abortion, you always retain your right to financial compensation in a court of law, no matter what form(s) you signed.

10. Ask what you should do if you have complications from the abortion.

Complications may include a fever and/or excessive bleeding. Find out whether the abortion provider has a 24-hour hotline, hosptial privileges, and what services they will be able to offer you in the event of an emergency.

11. Make sure to have a comprehensive follow-up exam two weeks after the abortion.

Make sure that you get a full pelvic examination after the procedure. Without follow-up care, you may not know if there have been complications, such as an infection.