I wish Benjamin Studenski would bother to research subjects and educate himself before making sweeping, grossly deceptive, generalizations on so-called “partial birth abortion” in his thinly veiled Oct. 14th column.

First, “partial birth abortion” is not a medical term. It is a term created by politicians and is defined so broadly that it encompasses the safest and most common methods of abortion.

Third trimester, late-term abortions are already illegal in Iowa, and have been since 1973 when Roe v. Wade was passed in the Supreme Court.

Anti-choice legislators developed a law to ban so-called “partial birth abortions” with the intent to prohibit all abortions, at any stage of pregnancy. The language in the law is so vague that it does not contain the terms “viability” or “third trimester” to encompass time limits on abortion.

Additionally, the so-called partial-birth abortion law makes no exceptions for women seeking an abortion in cases of rape, incest, health-risks to the mother, or when a fetus has medical complication incompatible with life.

If the law were enacted, it would leave the health and life of many pregnant women in serious danger.

Anti-choice politicians have tried to pass similar laws in Iowa and 16 other states.

The courts have intervened and blocked the enforcement of these laws because they are extremely vague and unconstitutional.

By fighting the so-called “partial-birth abortion” law, advocates for women’s rights are not trying to make an argument for when life begins. They are trying to protect a woman’s constitutional right to a safe, legal abortion.

Mr. Studenski must have bought into the vague rhetoric that anti-choice legislators are using rather to research the facts for himself.

As a columnist, he is in the position to relay information to the ISU student body.

It is unfortunate that he chose to spread lies and propaganda rather than fact.

Brandon Stahl

Communications assistant

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa