I write this as a registered nurse, certified in care of neonates.  Newborn children are far more likely to be healthy when they are born into families that are ready for the challenges of parenthood, financially, socially and emotionally.  Forcing a woman to keep an unintended/unwanted pregnancy often leads to a premature, undernourished, or otherwise unhealthy child.  I have seen this, but "pro-life" protesters only want you to see graphic photos of aborted fetuses, never pictures of unwanted, hungry, unhealthy children.

TRAP legislation will not end abortion.  It will effectively end safe abortion.  More women will contract infections, some deadly, and women will die when they seek out abortion.  It happened regularly before Roe v. Wade, but partisans have argued since for this country to go back to a time when women could not go to doctors for care they needed.  Do not send Virginia back in time.  Gov. McDonnell, Ken Cuccinelli, and the extremist right wing they speak for, have made a laughing stock of Virginia for too long in the realm of women's health.  Keep abortion safe and legal in Virginia.  Instead, focus on preventing unwanted pregnancy through comprehensive sex education and affordable, safe birth control.

January Lane, RN-LRN