
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 7, 1991                   TAG: 9102070434
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CAN GET ABORTIONS AFTER 14 WEEKS

HARRIET Davidson (letter, Jan. 17) is seriously misinformed when she says, "There are no abortion clinics in Virginia that perform abortions after 14 weeks of pregnancy." I have in front of me a Yellow Pages advertisement for an Alexandria abortion mill that announces in large block letters, "1st & 2nd Trimester Abortions" - that is, abortions through 24 weeks.

Alexandria is not alone. I know of several women in this valley who, after 14 weeks of pregnancy, have undergone abortions at Roanoke's abortion mill, local hospitals, and in the offices of various abortionists. One woman was in the middle of her third trimester when she sought the abortion. Although I don't know where she went for it, I do know that she was not having it done because of genetic abnormalities in the baby or a threat to her health.

The ugly truth is that abortion in Virginia is legal at any time between conception and birth. Baby Isaiah could have been legally aborted, and Ms. Davidson has good reason to be concerned. FREDRICK M. WILLIAMS ROANOKE

by CNB