Abortion debates

The Diane Rehm Show just featured a panel discussion of abortion,and I feel compelled to briefly comment on a few tidbits raised by the panelists and callers:

• No one is "for" abortion.  Proc-choice does not mean pro-abortion.  It is a tragedy, but it is a necessary tragedy.  Laws like the 20-week ban in Texas will result in even more tragedies by denying women access to safe, legal abortions and forcing them to resort to unsafe, unregulated procedures.
• Increasing abortion access does not increase demand.  In fact, I'll bet there's data to support the idea that closing Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health clinics increases demand for abortion because of reduced access to contraception.  So many anti-choicers seem to ignore this issue or even denounce contraception altogether.  In my opinion, anyone who claims to be "pro-life" better be "pro-contraception access" but they usually aren't.  This is why I view the anti-choice movement as part of the reason why abortion rates are so high in the U.S.  Ironic, isn't it?
• The panelist from the Susan B. Anthony List claims that just as we do everything we can to give life-saving treatment to a 24-week pre-term baby, we should similarly do everything we can to save a 24 week unborn fetus - there should be no moral distinction.  While I understand her logic, she fails to realize that parents and doctors caring for a pre-term baby face a painful range of choices that can be described as a "confusing tug of war between two basic moral touchstones: doing no harm...and doing everything in our power to help."  This RadioLab podcast is a touching example of why we don't (and shouldn't) legislate major medical decisions for pre-term babies and why we shouldn't legislate decisions regarding pregnancies.  The mother is a journalist who chronicled her experience in a series of articles.  The tag line for Part 1 encapsulates it best:  "When a baby is born at the edge of viability, which is the greater act of love: to save her, or to say goodbye?"  Each situation is unique and deeply personal.  Our politicians have absolutely no business telling us what to do.