Life Links 4/1/11

The Philadelphia City Paper's cover story for yesterday's edition was on how abortionist Steve Brigham is still in business, despite losing his license in numerous states and having employees complain to the state about his practices.

Fifteen clinics were issued "notices of deficiencies," mostly regarding relatively minor infractions. But one case among still-open facilities stood out: Six pages of violation notices were issued to a single abortion clinic — violations that have not yet been reported by the press — connected to a man named Steven Brigham.

Brigham, like Gosnell, has overseen abortion procedures in Pennsylvania for decades. Like Gosnell, he's run afoul of the law — throughout his career, in fact. And, as was the case with Gosnell, abortion providers and women's health advocates say they've alerted the state repeatedly to concerns over Brigham's clinics.

One big difference, however: These clinics are still open.

In the Richmond Times-Dispatch, A. Barton Hinkle notes some of the pro-choice movement's cognitive dissonance.

Pro-choice activists contend a woman has the right to choose what to do with her own body and the government should not overrule her. This is a very appealing argument — and if you agree with it then it settles the abortion question (so long as you also agree that the fetus is part of the woman's body and not a distinct being with rights of its own).

But not many people agree with it. Not even many abortion-rights advocates agree with it. Take Karen Finney, who recently excoriated "The War on Women" in The Hill. "Here in Washington," she wrote, "we're fighting the 'let women die' provision, which says a doctor can refuse to treat a pregnant woman, even if an abortion is the only way to save her life."

But wait. Allowing a doctor to refuse to treat someone is allowing that doctor to decide what to do with his or her own body. The "let women die" act just as easily could be called the "let doctors decide whom they will treat without government interference" act.

The Wisconsin library which at one point canceled the showing of a prolife film will now let 40 Days for Life show the film.

Marathon County Corporation Counsel Scott Corbett said county officials conferred with an attorney for their insurance company and determined that there was not enough evidence that protests would lead to a "civil disturbance" to cancel the event.

Arron Harrison's first parole hearing for attempted killing of an unborn child (the child was unharmed) didn't go so well after trying to sell a really bad story to the parole hearing officer.

On May 20, 2009, Harrison encountered a distraught 17-year-old girl as he walked down the street. The pair struck up a conversation, the girl later told police, and she asked Harrison to help her end her pregnancy, promising to pay him $150 in return.

The girl said she and Harrison went to a home where she lay down on a bed and covered her face with a pillow while he punched her five times in the abdomen. Harrison also bit the teen on the neck and slapped her in the face, said the girl, who was charged in juvenile court with criminal solicitation to commit murder....

Harrison said Tuesday he had no idea the girl was pregnant and disputed that she'd ever been in his bedroom. Instead, he said, the pair was sitting in the front yard of the home where he lived, having a debate about abortion, when he became enraged.