The Top Ten After Abortion stories of 2003.

1. The most important development in 2003 was the increasing willingness of women to speak out about their abortion experiences through groups such as Silent No More.

2. In June, Norma McCorvey (Roe of Roe v Wade) filed a Rule 60 motion to overturn Roe v Wade. The motion was quickly dismissed, and is now on appeal. McCorvey's motion was supported by over 1000 affidavits from those harmed by abortion.

3. The Canadian Medical Association Journal published a May 2003 article that showed a statistical correlation between induced abortion and significantly higher rates of psychiatric hospitalization. It was attacked for publishing the article and ably defended itself in a July editorial.

4. In September, Glamour (scroll to October 13 entry) published a lengthy article about the November Gang abortion clinics. The November Gang is a tiny subset of American abortionists who recognize that women who abort often feel conflict and pain. Although the article outraged pro-life sensibilities by referring to macabre practices such as baptizing mutilated fetal remains in basins at the clinics, it helped to raise awareness that abortion is rarely an emotionally neutral surgical procedure.

5. Television talk show host Dr. Phil (scroll to second entry or go directly here) also helped raise awareness when he featured a couple on his show in late September who were unable to experience marital intimacy after choosing an abortion a few months before their marriage.

6. Claims and counterclaims were made throughout the year (here's one example)
about whether there is a link between abortion and breast cancer. In October, an abortionist paid an undisclosed settlement (scroll to October 22) to a former client for failing to notify the client of the link.

7. Several states, including Texas and Minnesota, passed controversial Women's Right to Know laws. These laws typically require that abortion clinics provide women seeking abortions with information about fetal development and the risks of abortion, and that a 24-hour-waiting period must occur.

8. Russia, which has very liberal abortion laws and practices, is starting to recognize that abortion has risks and negative consequences, including infertility. (Scroll to February 23rd or try this link.)

9. Holly Patterson dies after taking RU-486 prescribed by her local Planned Parenthood.

10. An increased focus on fetal homicide laws ensues because of the Laci Peterson murder, giving post-abortive women another occasion to reflect on what happened during the abortion, some with equanimity and some not.