Dr. George Tiller
A few years ago a friend of mine considered going to Kansas to get a late-term abortion from Dr. George Tiller. A standard ultrasound followed by genetic testing had shown there was a rare chromosomal problem with her much-wanted baby. Another round of genetic testing was needed to determine just how bad the problem was, but both of the most likely scenarios were very bad indeed - not a life that my friend wanted to inflict on anyone. The final test took some time, and the results wouldn’t be back until just after the 24 week deadline for an abortion in Massachusetts. So the question was: assume that one of the two most likely scenarios was true and end the pregnancy, or try to beat the odds and risk giving birth to a child who would have birth defects that were truly severe, incurable but not fatal, and in one case excruciating for an entire lifetime?
Then my friend’s mother realized that, if we waited for the final test, my friend could go to Dr. Tiller if needed. That would be hard and expensive, of course, but it allowed my friend and her husband to wait until the final test results were in before making a decision.
They beat the odds. Their daughter is healthy both physically and cognitively.
I don’t know what they would have decided if going to Dr. Tiller wasn’t an option. But I suspect that because of him there is a happy little girl now.
And for that he was murdered yesterday. In his church, while handing out the order of service.
Then my friend’s mother realized that, if we waited for the final test, my friend could go to Dr. Tiller if needed. That would be hard and expensive, of course, but it allowed my friend and her husband to wait until the final test results were in before making a decision.
They beat the odds. Their daughter is healthy both physically and cognitively.
I don’t know what they would have decided if going to Dr. Tiller wasn’t an option. But I suspect that because of him there is a happy little girl now.
And for that he was murdered yesterday. In his church, while handing out the order of service.