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If patients are forced to continue a nonviable pregnancy, they will be forced to withstand the physical impact of of childbirth and the mental trauma of carrying a child that is dead or will die. It's very difficult for patients and their families go through that.

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Opinion | I had an abortion to save my baby from pain. In my state, that didn’t matter.

I listen to my patients as I support them in making medical decisions. You can listen to Valerie Peterson share what making that decision is like: billmoyers.com/story/no-choic You can read

@defending_grace

's story here:

washingtonpost.com

The process to terminate a pregnancy in Missouri is insulting.

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.@SenateMajLdr, you noted that “fetal pain” is your main reason for banning abortion at 20 weeks, and I’d like to take the opportunity to share some evidence-based medical information on this with you, as well. jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/

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Our best evidence-based research indicates a fetus cannot perceive pain until the third trimester, 26 weeks, not 20 weeks as you have claimed. jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/

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Unfortunately, attempts to ban abortion at 20 weeks aren't based on medical facts. laterabortion.org/media-and-comm

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I know that some of your Senate colleagues are confused about why providers use anesthesia if the fetus can't feel pain. The anesthesia relaxes a patient’s uterus, preventing premature contractions, immobilizing the fetus to ensure the surgery goes easier.

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During surgery, doctors must be precise and cautious. Uterine contractions at the wrong time can be dangerous. This helps providers give their patients the best and safest care.

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In fact, experts from

@rcobsgyn

have concluded that “use of analgesia provided no clear benefit to the fetus.” rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-

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“Studies suggest that the first pathways associated with pain perception are not present until well into the third trimester.”

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Research has shown a fetus does not yet have the capacity to experience pain until at least the third trimester, and unlikely until birth. laterabortion.org/sites/default/

3:46 PM · Jan 26, 2018

Replying to

A fetus may have a reflex reaction to a painful stimulus by 18 weeks, however the neural connections to the cerebral cortex do not exist to allow the fetus to perceive this as pain. You can learn more at laterabortion.org

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I am a doctor and abortion provider. I do what’s best for my patients, their health, and their families. I listen to them and offer evidence-based medical advice. I am also a citizen, and I believe our laws should be based on scientific evidence.

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I rely on evidence-based science to offer my patients options to have safe, and healthy pregnancies. I hope you will too, @SenateMajLdr.

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One more thing –– are you aware that many of the restrictions on abortion that you support are creating barriers to access, thus forcing patients to seek abortions in the second and third trimesters? expressnews.com/news/local/art

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These restrictions make access difficult, forcing patients to travel to a clinic, experience delays while saving money to afford an abortion especially if insurance won't cover it, take unpaid time off of work, and make multiple appointments. Healthcare should be accessible.

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