Abortion Information

Being confronted with an unexpected pregnancy is hard. You are probably experiencing a variety of emotions such as fear, confusion, anger, uncertainty, or a roller coaster of all the above. Before you make a choice, we would like for you to know about all your options so you can make a choice based on objective information and facts. This is one of the most important choices you’ll ever make so please allow us to share a few things with you.

First, your choice is protected by law. Arkansas state law states that no one can force you to have an abortion; not your parents, not your boyfriend, and not your husband. No one can force you to have an abortion even if you are still a minor. If you feel like you are being forced to have an abortion, please call us at 753-4038. We can help you.

Second, whether you choose to have an abortion or not, you are the only one who will have to live with the consequences of your choice. If you have friends or family pressuring you to have an abortion, please remember once your choice is made, those who pressured you will move on with their lives leaving you to handle the consequences of your choice. Make sure that your choice is a choice you can live with once it is made. Family and friends mean well by offering their advice, but it is important to also get advice from people who you can trust who are outside of the situation. A majority of women who choose abortion, regret that choice. Before you are caught in the web of emotions which usually follow an abortion, please take the time to seek advice from people who can help you by presenting all your options in a pressure-free atmosphere. It is best to get advice or information from someone who will not financially benefit from your decision to either have or not have an abortion.

Third, Please understand your rights as a possible patient at a clinic which does abortions.

You have the right to:

have your abortion performed by a licensed doctor in the state of Arkansas. Many abortion clinics will hire doctors from surrounding states. Once the doctor has completed his shift, he will return to his home state. If complications occur, you will have no way of contacting that specific doctor. Be sure to get the name of the doctor who performs your abortion.
know if this doctor has ever had his medical license revoked or suspended.
to be informed if the doctor has medical malpractice insurance incase you are injured or in the case of death. You would expect this of any physician you saw for any other medical procedure. A doctor who performs abortions should be no exception.
demand if complications or injuries should arise during the abortion procedure, you will be transported by ambulance immediately to the nearest emergency department. Abortion injuries can cause death. After your surgery, if you suspect you are having complications as a result of your surgery, go to an emergency room immediately. If you had an abortion using the RU486 pills, be sure to bring the medicine bottles with you to the ER so the physician knows exactly what you were given.
make sure any anesthesia or medication given to you before, during or after the abortion is done by an Arkansas state licensed medical professional.
be sure all risks are thoroughly explained to you until you are comfortable with the responses you receive to your questions.
to leave the abortion clinic whenever you choose. Even is you are being prepped for the surgery and you change your mind, you can still leave.

The “Do Not’s” of an abortion:

Do not sign a statement stating you will not hold the clinic legally responsible or liable for injury or death as a result of the abortion performed there.
Do not allow anyone to administer anesthesia or medication who is not licensed to do so in the state of Arkansas.
Do not believe the myth that having an abortion is safer than giving birth. The truth is less than 1 in 10,000 pregnancies result in the mother’s death. Many will tell you death caused by an abortion are even less. What they don’t tell you is that death from childbirth are recorded accurately. Death caused by a legal abortion is not recorded accurately. In addition, having an abortion can actually increase the chance of fetal death in any later pregnancies. Future pregnancies are now at greater risk for premature deliveries and babies who are low birth weight. After an abortion, early death of future unborn babies is higher by 2 to 4 times than what is considered normal. Ectopic pregnancies are twice as high for women who have had one abortion and 4 times higher for women who have had more than one abortion. Most of the time the true risks of an abortion are not thoroughly explained by those who perform abortions.

Abortion information for those under 18 years of age:

In Arkansas you can obtain a legal abortion without letting your parents know. Upfront this may sound like a huge relief to you. However, if complications develop, you need to let your parents know immediately so that you can get medical attention immediately. Once you leave the abortion clinic after an abortion, they are no longer responsible for any of your care. If you have any of the following signs after you’re abortion,

excessive amounts of vaginal bleeding and cramping, hemorrhaging
abortion-causing pills can leave fetal tissue in the uterus causing infection, can appear suddenly; can be fatal
drug reaction caused by the abortion pill can cause nausea, vomiting, severe cramping and bleeding, chills, and fever; can appear suddenly and be life threatening
vaginal discharge along with a an odor and intense pain

PLEASE LET YOUR PARENTS KNOW IMMEDIATELY. They will be the best ones to help you get the proper medical care required. Please do not call the abortion clinic. There may be a risk of your symptoms being treated as nothing serious. Valuable time may be lost.

The following is a seven minute video of Dr. Joseph DeCook, Obstetrician-Gynecologist. Dr. DeCook describes in detail what you can expect with a medical abortion procedure and a surgical abortion procedure and the risks involved. Before making a decision, take the time to be informed about all of the procedures and risks.

Abortion Explained from Frontlines Publishing on Vimeo.