Doctor: ‘Dismemberment Abortion Is Absolutely Brutal,’ Trial Continues
The Dismemberment Abortion Ban trial resumed today with more important testimony revealing the truth about the abortion industry in Texas, with Texas Values’ attorney and president present in the courtroom.
Today featured incredible testimony by former abortion doctor, Dr. Anthony Levatino, who is a retired, board certified OBGYN specialist.
Dr. Levatino described the dismemberment abortion as an “absolutely brutal procedure where a human being it torn to pieces.” Dr. Levatino said that a when “white substance comes out, that’s the baby’s brains” which happens after the unborn child’s skull is crushed. Dr. Levatino, who no longer performs abortions, said he remembers “stacking up body parts on a table” and having a “pile of body parts” to count to make sure that no body parts are left in the woman’s womb. The arms and legs are about 4 inches long at this point (between 14-22 weeks) according to Dr. Levatino.
Also, local doctor Dr. David L. Berry testified about the common practice of abortions or “fetal demise” by use of chemicals such as digoxin or potassium chloride. At issue in the case is that abortionists want to perform dismemberment abortions instead of using other methods such as use of digoxin or potassium chloride, which abortionist that filed the lawsuit claim doesn’t often work as consistently or without complications. Dr. Berry countered the plaintiff’s claim by stating that he has never experienced a case where digoxin or potassium chloride didn’t cause “fetal demise.”
The ban, now in state law and supported by a wide margin in the Texas Legislature, prohibits the barbaric practice tearing limbs from babies still in the womb as far along as 22 weeks. The brutal procedure is threatening to the mother as well, and only represents a tiny portion of the 50,000 abortions performed a year in Texas.
Texas Values supported SB 8 (85th Legislature, 2017), which includes a specific ban on dismemberment abortion.
“Today’s testimony makes it clear how weak the abortion industry’s case is, now with board certified medical experts making it clear that dismemberment abortion is “absolutely brutal” and there are other methods that could be used between 14-22 weeks,” said Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values, who was in the courtroom. “There’s a reason why a growing number of states are considering laws to ban this inexcusable procedure that ends the life of an innocent person in one of the cruelest ways imaginable.”
The trial is expected to continue through Wednesday.
Dismemberment abortion laws are on the books in West Virginia and Mississippi, but challenges to similar laws in Arkansas and Alabama were successful in the trial courts. Oklahoma’s law is currently being challenged.
Dismemberment abortions are carried out on babies as old as 22 weeks but are typically performed on babies in the womb at or near 15 weeks. There is an exception in the law for medical emergency. In live dismemberment, the abortionist literally tears a fully formed child apart limb by limb, until it bleeds to death and is removed from the mother’s womb. It is technically referred to as “dilation and evacuation” or D&E.
The case is Whole Women’s Health v. Paxton. It is being heard in the courtroom of Judge Lee Yeakel for the United States District Court of the Western District of Texas.
Previous coverage:
Dismemberment Abortion Trial Begins Today, Exposes Truth About Abortion In Texas (Nov. 2, 2017):
https://txvalues.org/2017/11/02/dismemberment-abortion-trial-begins-today-exposes-truth-about-abortion-in-texas