Abortion decisions belong to those involved

According to the Idaho Journal recently, our state senator, Scott Herndon, proposed removing the exceptions for rape and incest from Idaho's current abortion law.

The paper reported that "Minority Leader Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, asked about situations in which teenage girls were raped by an uncle or father and if that girl would be forced to carry her pregnancy to term under Herndon's proposed legislation. Herndon replied that he saw the situation of rape/incest as “an opportunity” to have a child.

This situation occurred in our district last fall.

While the committee voted not to introduce Herndon's bill, the Idaho Republican Party platform endorses his idea that there be no exception for rape or incest. This is a decision that belongs to a woman, the father, the expertise of her doctors, and, if they wish, the advice of a faith counselor. It is not one that the state legislature should decide, or even can decide reasonably, without the medical and legal experience they do not have.

NANCY GERTH

Sagle