Federal Law Would Ban Abortions as Early as 13 Weeks in Pregnancy and Allows No Exceptions for a Woman's Health

Statement of Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation

 New York, NY - The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is suing to overturn the Federal Abortion Ban signed into law by President Bush because it endangers the lives and health of American women. The law is so broad that it would ban abortions performed as early as 13 weeks in pregnancy.

The law has no exception to protect a woman's health; it prohibits abortions doctors say are safe and medically appropriate. To safeguard women's health, medical decisions must be made by doctors and not by politicians.

Congress and the White House don't belong in the middle of the relationship women have with their doctors. With the legal assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union and Wilmer Cutler Pickering, we are fighting to ensure that doctors can continue to make appropriate medical decisions so that women can receive the best medical care possible.

NAF members care for more than half of the women who choose abortion each year in the United States. Our member doctors practice medicine at clinics, their own offices, and hospitals throughout the country, including premier teaching hospitals.

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The National Abortion Federation is the professional association of abortion providers in the US and Canada dedicated to ensuring that abortion remains safe, legal and accessible.
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