Frontline (1983–…): Season 1, Episode 12 - Abortion Clinic - full transcript

Abortion Clinic tells the stories of four young women who are confronted by unplanned pregnancies. Two of them decide to carry their pregnancies to term; two chose to have abortions performed at a local clinic.

♪ ♪

Put this on your arms.

JESSICA SAVITCH:
Tonight, on"Frontline"...

For the first time
on American television,

the experience of abortion.

With this
vacuum cleaner-type tube,

the baby is literally
pulled apart

and ripped to pieces.

NARRATOR:
This is the story

of the anguish of four women.

Two who decide
to have their babies...



and two who choose
to come here...

♪ ♪

...the abortion clinic.

This is"Frontline."

with Jessica Savitch.

Why should you spend an hour

watching another film
on abortion?

It's been ten years
since the Supreme Court decision

legalizing abortion.

And in the intervening decade,

hasn't the subject
been discussed

and debated and documented?

Yes. It's been ten years.

But there are now new cases
before the Supreme Court.



The Reagan administration
has taken

a strong anti-abortion stance.

So it will again be
an election year issue,

and federal and state
and city legislatures

are reexamining the subject.

Tonight on "Frontline,"

we take another look at abortion

but not as a policy debate

and not as a legal brief

or a potential plank
in some political platform.

If anything has been left out

in all the discussion and debate

and documentation
on this subject,

it's the complex,
difficult choices

experienced by thousands
of individuals

in this country every day.

It is that experience
we share with you tonight.

Before we watch the film,

some background:

it was filmed at a clinic chosen
because it is representative

of abortion clinics
in this country.

It also offers
individual counseling,

in which the reasons behind
the decision are explored.

We met hundreds of women during
the five months at the clinic.

The two whose abortions
you will see in this film

are single, white and young.

And if you wonder
why that is so,

it's because the majority
of women who make this decision

are also single,
white and young.

We call the film
Abortion Clinic.

It is produced and directed
for "Frontline"by Mark Obenhaus

and coproduced by Rita Stern
and Michael Schwarz.

The narrator is Mark Obenhaus.

And one final note,

the abortion procedures
you will see are graphic.

(church bells playing tune)

OBENHAUS:
Chester, Pennsylvania,

is a small industrial city south
of Philadelphia.

On the outskirts of Chester

stands a greenstone building

which has become
a local landmark.

In the past, people knew it

as the library
of Crozer Seminary.

Since the seminary moved,

the building has housed

the Reproductive Health
& Counseling Center,

a private abortion clinic
that offers

a full range
of gynecological services.

Last year, more than 3,000
first-trimester abortions

were performed here.

This is a film about the people
who work inside the clinic,

about the young women
who come to the clinic

seeking abortions,

and about those people

in the community
who steadfastly oppose

the clinic's existence.

PROTESTERS: Give us this day
our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those
who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Good afternoon.
Reproductive Health.

Margie speaking.

CLINICIAN: Was this
your choice? WOMAN: Mm-hmm.

CLINICIAN: Totally?
WOMAN: Yeah.

CLINICIAN: You feel forced
into the decision in any way?

WOMAN: No, not really.
CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm.

WOMAN: Um, last time,
when I was here five years ago,

then I felt like,
you know, that I...

I was, first of all, too young

-to have a kid.
CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm.

WOMAN: And, second of all,
even if I did,

then I don't think
it would've been happy,

'cause I knew
I wouldn't have been happy,

-you know?
CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm.

WOMAN: And I don't think
I could afford it.

And there was a lot of things--
You know, I was only 15.

There's a lot of things
I'd like to do with my life

-and stuff, you know?
CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm. And now?

WOMAN: Now there's still
a lot of things

I'd like to do with my life.
I'd like to get--

You know, I want to be
a draftsman, an architect.

CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm. WOMAN:
I want to go to school.

I have to work my way through,

and I'd never be able
to support a child.

WOMAN 2:
She's in the dressing room

and she's already changed.

Maybe Jane could take her
in the staff room

and talk with her
for a few minutes,

to see if she really wants
to be here or not.

KLAVAN: You've been told
exactly what's gonna be

-happening today, right?
DIANE: Yeah.

KLAVAN: So you know you're
gonna be feeling all sorts

of strange things.

WOMAN: I think that
if I was still with my fiancé

and things
were still going strong,

then I would've kept it,
because,

you know, he's, like--
he's five years older

-than I am, you know?
CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm.

WOMAN: He's got
a really good job, you know?

And he can, you know, support.

And he loves kids.
He wants one right now,

-you know?
CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm.

WOMAN:
But it's not his.

And we're not doing too well,

-relationship-wise, so...
CLINICIAN: Mm-hmm.

KLAVAN:
Good. You're very good.

I hope you have a nice dinner.

-(chuckles)
DIANE: (chuckles) Thank you.

WOMAN 2: All finished.
You did really well, Diane.

OBENHAUS: Dr. Klavan is one
of the owners of the clinic.

WOMAN 2:
Just lay down. Relax a little.

KLAVAN: The termination
of these pregnancies

is not a casual, uh,

approach on the part
of the individuals

who present themselves
to this facility.

For the most part, they've
all thought it out well.

Uh, it's not as if

they can hardly wait to get here
so they can be aborted

and then go out
and get pregnant again.

Uh, it's a decision
which most of them

have, um, uh, considered
over a period of time.

And, uh, I think that,
uh, their experience here

in this particular
abortion facility

has been a maturing experience
for them psychosexually.

CLINICIAN 2:
Can you tell me why you-you felt

you-you made this decision?

WOMAN 3: Because I'm doing
fine with the baby I have,

and I don't think I would be
able to provide for this baby.

CLINICIAN 2:
Mm-hmm. Are you going to school?

WOMAN 3: Yes. CLINICIAN 2:
Well, that makes it

-a little rougher for you,
doesn't it? WOMAN 3: Yeah.

CLINICIAN 2: Are you living,
uh, at home with your mom?

WOMAN 3: Yes. CLINICIAN 2:
And does she help out?

WOMAN 3: A lot. And they tell
me the first one is everybody,

but, the second one,
you're on your own.

(laughing)

MARGIE: One thing, June,
that we have to let you know is,

okay, every Saturday morning,
when you do come in,

by our parking lot,
we do have picketers.

The anti-abortionist group.

And one is dressed
like a doctor.

Don't let him confuse you,
because they will be there

and try to stop you
to hand you literature.

ISAJIW: I'm Dr. Isajiw.
I'm-I'm medical director

of Women's Pregnancy
Health Services,

which is a group that provides
counseling by doctors

and alternatives to abortion
and medical referrals.

What primarily I'm doing
out here is praying.

That's the-the first thing.

This is a, uh, situation
where the girls are coming here

on Saturday morning
to have abortions.

And it's a pretty late time
to reach them,

but, nevertheless, we do manage
to reach quite a few of them.

But that first thing is we pray
for their babies and for them,

and we also pray for the--
for the abortionists who are--

Maybe some of them don't realize
what they're doing.

KLAVAN: I think of myself
as a sensitive, uh, person.

Uh, um...

I don't like people
carrying signs that, uh...

I think I'm like everyone else.
I want everyone to like me

and to care for me.

Uh, I don't like, uh,

my name, uh,
associated to, uh...

with, uh, the term "killer"

or "murderer."

I don't mind being called
an abortionist,

because that is
actually what I do.

And the same that I'm a surgeon

and an obstetrician
and what have you.

Uh, I don't like
to be categorized

as merely providing
abortion services.

I wouldn't mind the-the
picketers and their signs

if they also included the fact
that I've been very instrumental

in the development
of fetal monitoring

and that I--
most of my activity is--

relates to preservation
of a high-risk pregnancy.

ISAJIW:
This is a, uh... a book

called From Conception to Birth.

Sorry it's a little ragged here.

But this is one
of the textbooks,

a standard medical textbook,

that we use in counseling.

And this is a life-size,
real-size model...

of a pregnant uterus

ten weeks from conception.

Now, this is still
the first trimester.

At ten weeks from conception,

this child, we know,
can suck his thumb,

we know it can feel pain,

is already easily identified
as male or female,

uh, has bowel movements,

uh, has a fully developed brain,

has brainwaves and everything
that you and I have.

And, as a matter of fact,
you and I

were once this size
and even smaller.

So, that's the first victim
in abortion.

And, of course,
many of the girls

think that it's somehow removing
some kind of pregnancy tissue.

And this is the kind
of counseling

they received at most places.

They don--
never have an opportunity,

hardly ever,
to talk to a physician

before an abortion is done.

So, many of the girls,

once they realize
what is really happening

and what this baby looks like,
say, "No, I won't do that.

I'll find some other way
to solve my problem."

CLINICIAN 2:
What are you nervous about?

HELEN: I know what's gonna
happen. CLINICIAN 2: Uh-huh.

HELEN:
And it's harder the second time.

CLINICIAN 2:
Why do you think it is?

Knowing what?

HELEN:
Knowing what's gonna happen.

Knowing that you did it

-to yourself again.
CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.

Um, can you tell me why
you've chose this option,

as opposed to the other ones
that are available to you?

-Do you know what they are?
HELEN: No.

CLINICIAN 2: You don't know
what your other options are?

HELEN:
Well, keeping it. A-Adoption.

CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.
HELEN: But I know,

if I went through
to nine months,

-I would've kept it.
CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.

HELEN: And then it wouldn't
have had the life,

a good life, because
I can't support myself yet.

CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.
HELEN: And I wouldn't be able

to handle being a single parent
on my own.

CLINICIAN 2: Do you know
that there is financial aid,

there are places you can go
that will help you financially

if you decided
to keep the pregnancy?

HELEN: Yes, I know.
CLINICIAN 2: Okay.

-You still do not want to?
HELEN: No.

CLINICIAN 2: Okay.
HELEN: Because it's not fair

-to the baby. And it's not
CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.

-really fair to me.
CLINICIAN 2: And you.

HELEN'S MOTHER:
Helen was born in May.

That July, I was 18.

And I-- In a way,
I didn't want that for her.

That's why I'm glad
she made this decision.

'Cause I feel as though
I'm really trapped at home.

I have no social life anymore,

'cause, I mean,
you go out and, you know,

a man says, "Married?"
I say, "No, divorced."

And you say, "Four kids."
They go, "Oh, that's nice.

Goodbye." You know?

They don't want
to be bothered with it.

And I just didn't want that
for her.

I just feel as though
she should have a life.

And I'm glad, you know,

she could come here
and have this done.

Because she can start over.

CLINICIAN 2: Are you working?
HELEN: No.

I'm still going to school.
I'm in high school.

CLINICIAN 2: You're in high
school? What grade are you in?

HELEN: 12th.
CLINICIAN 2: 12th?

Okay, I see you're interested
in taking birth control pills.

-Right? Have you ever taken
pills before? HELEN: Yes.

-Yes.
CLINICIAN 2: Okay.

Let's see. It says here that
the man told you he was sterile.

-Can you tell me about that?
HELEN: Yeah. He told me, um,

that he had a vasectomy done
so I didn't have to take

-birth control anymore.
CLINICIAN 2: Uh-huh.

HELEN: So it was stupid
of me, but I believed him.

CLINICIAN 2: Uh-huh.
HELEN: I'm so gullible.

And, um, here I found out
that I didn't get my period.

CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.
HELEN: It was-- Well, I'm--

I was late a week,
and I had, um, X-rays done.

CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.
HELEN: And then I found out

-I was, uh, pregnant.
CLINICIAN 2: Oh, great.

HELEN:
So it was, um, one big mess.

CLINICIAN 2: Did you tell him
that you were pregnant?

And what did he have to say
about the sterile part?

HELEN: He laughed at me.
CLINICIAN 2: He laughed

-at you? Uh-huh.
HELEN: And I cried.

-Just didn't help. CLINICIAN
2: Did he say it wasn't his?

HELEN: No, he said--
he said it was his.

CLINICIAN 2: Uh-huh.
Did he say he lied to you?

HELEN: Mm-hmm. But there's
nothing really I could've done.

CLINICIAN 2:
Uh, how did that make you feel?

HELEN: Angry.
There's a lot of anger built up.

CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.
Does he know you're here today?

HELEN: Yeah.
CLINICIAN 2: Uh-huh.

You didn't want him to come?

HELEN:
No, he just said,

you know, from...

When I found out I was pregnant,
I'm on my own.

-It's my mistake. CLINICIAN
2: That's real nice.

HELEN: So I went and I told
my mom. CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.

HELEN'S MOTHER:
Um, I just-- I can't explain

in words how I feel.

Uh, it's all been bottled up
for a few weeks,

and it's gonna... explode.

'Cause, uh,
as far as I'm concerned,

you know, he had just as much
to do with it.

But yet,
as soon as she had called him,

he just dropped her.

CLINICIAN 2:
Uh, is he helping you,

-as far as this abortion goes?
HELEN: No. My mother is.

-No.
CLINICIAN 2: Your mother?

Wow.

HELEN:
I mean, he should see what the--

you know, what the procedure is
and stuff.

-And then he wouldn't...
CLINICIAN 2: What difference

do you think that would make,

if they saw it, if they
don't have to feel it or, um...

HELEN: Maybe they'd think
before they do it.

Make sure one's
on birth control, not lying.

CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm. Whose
responsibility do you think

-that is? HELEN: The girl's.
(chuckles) The girl's,

-because... CLINICIAN 2:
Are you just saying that

because you're pregnant now?

HELEN:
No, because...

(clicks tongue)
if you gave the guy the pill,

-I don't think they'd take it.
-(laughs)

I really-- I don't--
I wouldn't trust 'em.

I rely on myself from now on.

CLINICIAN 2:
Mm-hmm.

You think you'll ever believe
another man?

HELEN: No.
CLINICIAN 2: Yes, you will.

HELEN: Probably in time.
But not right now.

HELEN'S MOTHER: After I had
got pregnant with the last one,

my husband
just couldn't cope with it,

and he just, uh, felt as though
he should have an out somewhere.

And he took it
and left me with the four kids.

HELEN:
My father was an alcoholic.

CLINICIAN 2: Mm-hmm.
HELEN: And beat up my mom.

And then he took off
when I was 13 years old.

And I haven't seen him since.

When my mom found out she was
pregnant with my one brother,

my dad told her
to get rid of it.

He ripped up the Christmas tree
and everything.

CLINICIAN 2:
Mm-hmm. How old were you then?

HELEN: I was three.
CLINICIAN 2: Three.

HELEN:
And I can still remember that.

HELEN'S MOTHER:
Helen is a good one.

She... If it wasn't for Helen,
I would have fal...

fallen apart quite a few times.

And then,
I have an eight-year-old,

and, uh, he's just like Helen.

Then I have a six-year-old
that's deaf,

and he's really a doll baby.

He's really Helen's life
and mine,

because everybody else
treats him like an outcast.

And even with David, I was...

They gave me a choice
to have an abortion with David,

but I choose to keep him,
'cause I had my back X-rayed

when I was two months pregnant,

and I didn't know
I was pregnant.

They claim that's why he's deaf.

I kind of hesitate on that,

but, uh, that goes to show you,

I mean,
how I feel about abortions.

I mean,
I could have had one done,

but yet I, you know,
choose to keep him.

But yet, for Helen, I think
she made the right decision.

CLINICIAN 2: So what we're
gonna do is go to the lab there.

HELEN'S MOTHER: I'd like to
see her finish her education.

Um, I would like
to see her find a good job,

find somebody
that really would love her

and take care of her,
treat her good,

because she has been handed
a raw deal for a long while.

I mean, from her father,
um, from her boyfriend.

CLINICIAN 2:
Okay.

HELEN'S MOTHER: And, uh, the
only one she can talk to is me,

and she tells me,
you know, just so much.

And I know
she hides a little bit.

Eventually, it comes out,

but I mean,
when she starts talking to me,

I know she hides some.

But, uh, I just would like

to see her find someone
and lead a happy life.

CLINICIAN 2:
Okay, come on in.

What I want you to do
is go here.

Just sit right up
on that ledge for me.

So that's it. You have
a lot further to come up, okay?

That's it. Good.

And this over here.

Little bit more.

Okay, you can lay back.

While you're laying there,

can you scoot up some more
towards me now?

Little bit more.

Perfect. Good.

Are you comfortable?

Or as comfortable
as you can get?

Okay. Well, Dr. Moranz and I

will be in
in a few minutes, okay?

We're just gonna give you
a few minutes to be by yourself,

some time
to get yourself together.

Okay, and I think there's
a pillow in here someplace.

-Try that now. Better?
HELEN: Mm-hmm.

CLINICIAN 2: Okay, I'll see
you in a few minutes, all right?

-Any last-minute questions?
HELEN: No.

CLINICIAN 2:
No? Don't be nervous.

-You'll be fine, okay?
HELEN: Mm-hmm.

CLINICIAN 2:
All right, I'll be back.

(footsteps departing)

(door opens)

(door closes)

Hi, Helen.
This is Dr. Moranz.

MORANZ:
Hi, Helen.

Helen, I just want
to check your uterus first.

Your last period was
the end of September?

HELEN:
Mm-hmm.

MORANZ:
Okay.

CLINICIAN 2:
Okay?

Okay, so, the first thing you're
gonna feel is the speculum.

Okay? A little
on the chilly side.

MORANZ:
Gonna feel some pressure.

CLINICIAN 2:
And some pressure, okay?

Good.

I'll be with you
in just a minute now, okay?

(indistinct chatter)

(liquid squirts)

Got a chill there?

You'll feel
the same thing again.

Some more pulling, another
sting, and more pressure.

Easy. Easy.

All the way in.

No more needles. Okay?
You see that?

You got through
that part all right.

HELEN: Mm.
MORANZ: Mm.

CLINICIAN 2:
A little cramp now.

Doing really well.

Should let me know
if something bothers you, okay?

You'll feel lots of pull now.

How does that feel?

Okay, gonna feel
the same thing again.

It'll go away
as fast as it comes, okay?

You will feel it again.

One more time. Easy does it.

-Good. Good.
-(metallic tool clacking)

Take a nice deep breath
all the way in. Don't panic.

Let it all out.
Blow it out.

Blow it out all the way.

Tough one. Okay.

One more time.
Take your breath all the way in.

Let it out. Good.

Okay, I'm gonna put
the machine on.

(loud whirring)

MORANZ: You'll feel sort of
a bubbly sensation now.

CLINICIAN 2:
Okay, Helen,

you'll start
to feel some cramps now, okay?

Squeeze tight.

Lots of cramps.

That's your uterus doing what
it's supposed to be doing, okay?

Easy does it.

Just breathe nice and slow,
in and out.

Nice and slow.

(loud sucking sound,
machine stops)

(metallic tools clacking)

Just gonna check inside now.

-What are you feeling?
HELEN: Little bit of cramp.

CLINICIAN 2:
Cramps?

And where are they--
right in the middle?

HELEN: Yeah.
CLINICIAN 2: Okay.

So hang in there
a little bit longer.

MORANZ:
You'll hear the machine

for probably about ten seconds
or so, and then we're all...

We'll be all through.

(loud whirring)

CLINICIAN 2:
Some more cramps now.

-Doing really well, Helen.
-(loud sucking sound)

MORANZ: And five more
seconds, and we're all through.

(loud sucking sound,
machine stops)

Okay. Just one...

CLINICIAN 2:
He's checking one more time.

Hang in there.

Easy.

(tools clicking)

-That's it. Okay.
MORANZ: We're all done.

CLINICIAN 2: We're all
finished. You did really well.

(tools clicking)

Just taking the instruments out.

You'll feel better
once the speculum comes out.

There you go. Better?

HELEN: Yeah.
CLINICIAN 2: Good.

MORANZ: Bye-bye, Helen.
HELEN: Bye. Thank you.

(machine whirring loudly)

(machine turns off)

CLINICIAN 2: I'll be with you
in just a minute, okay, Helen?

-Here you go.
WOMAN 4: Thank you.

(indistinct chatter)

(woman laughing in distance)

(indistinct chatter)

(chatter continues)

CLINICIAN 2:
Good.

-(clapping)
-Did terrific.

You can pat yourself
on the back now.

(Helen laughs)

Okay? All I got
to do is get a pad on you,

and take you to recovery
so you can relax for a while.

And that's all you got to do is
just lay back and relax.

Get some crackers and some soda.

(loud beep)

MORANZ:
When you're doing

an-an early
pregnancy termination,

the bulk of the material that
you're examining is placental,

and I-I can't get too involved
with placentas.

I think
that if I were in a situation

where I was doing
second-trimester abortions,

where you're-you're dealing
with... with fetuses,

and, uh, we're involved with...

in that sort of thing, um,

I think emotionally it,

over a period of time,
would-would have more of a...

of a toll.

KLAVAN:
Good.

I think, uh, all patients are
certainly aware of the fact

that the fetus,
as it grows in utero,

attains a-a point in time
in the uterus

where it begins
to resemble a human being.

It has a head, arms,
chest, legs and what have you.

Uh, and there is certainly
a heartbeat.

(loud whirring)

Uh, the fetus, uh, is

a growing mass
inside of the woman's uterus.

Uh, it is an embryo.
There's no doubt of that.

I don't think there's ever been
a question of that.

Uh, as to, uh,
whether one accepts it as a...

whether one accepts life, uh,

as occurring post-birth
or from conception

or in utero is left
to the individual person

dealing with that specific,
uh, decision.

ISAJIW:
I could see her on Tuesday.

OBENHAUS: As part
of his pro-life activities,

Dr. Isajiw has counseled
more than 500 women

on alternatives to abortion.

ISAJIW: I would,
I would probably...

I could meet her at the office,

or I could meet her
at Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital.

This is the result
of an abortion

at about 11 weeks
from conception.

And as you can see, with this
vacuum cleaner-type tube,

the baby is literally pulled
apart and ripped to pieces,

and is very rapidly destroyed
and killed by that process.

SUE: I don't see
how anybody can do that.

ISAJIW: Well,
what's important is, most women

that I know who've had abortions
simply don't understand that

and haven't been told that.

And the reason I'm explaining
this to you is because,

in my experience,
I know that when women find out

what abortion really does
and what it's all about

and what happens,
there are very few

who really want to do that
to their baby.

Okay, this is eight weeks,
and if you look close,

this baby is actually sucking
his or her thumb.

SUE: Looks like maybe
a little baby pig. (laughs)

ISAJIW:
Yeah, well...

This is at ten weeks.

Okay, I'm gonna skip over...

Here we have at 14 weeks.

Okay, and now
the main difference is

the baby is bigger,
and the skin is becoming thicker

so now, the baby is
no longer transparent.

SUE: And that's what
he looks like now inside me?

ISAJIW: Right, that's what
he looks like. Or she.

Okay, and what were
your feelings

when you found out
that you were pregnant?

SUE: Oh, I could have
hit the ceiling, really.

-I just wanted to forget
about it. ISAJIW: Mm-hmm.

SUE: You know,
I still do in a way.

ISAJIW: Right.
So you were obviously

not planning this pregnancy.

SUE: No, it was not
planned at all. (laughs)

ISAJIW: All right, had you,
uh, tried any kind of ways

to try to prevent it,
or avoid it then?

SUE: Uh, Dr. Lobo prescribed
birth control for me.

ISAJIW:
Mm-hmm.

SUE: And then, my husband
was laid off from his job,

so we moved to Jersey

to find work down there,

but there wasn't any.

And it came time to...

for another pack
of birth control pills,

and we didn't have the money,
so I just...

stopped 'em. (laughs)

ISAJIW: You're a little bit
ahead of the game

with some of the other women.
You have a husband

who's interested, who's helping
you take care of your child,

who's help... You know,
who has committed himself.

Come on in, Gary.

Why don't you come on in,
and I'll talk to you?

Okay, just have a seat
right here, please.

GARY:
Okay.

OBENHAUS:
Sue and Gary are 19 years old.

They were married five months

after the birth
of their first child.

ISAJIW: Now, Sue had mentioned
that there was some talk

about abortion, I believe it was
from your side of the family.

GARY: With my mother,
'cause, yeah, we're...

You know, we're...
got a nine-month-old baby now,

you know, and, uh,
we just don't have the money.

So she suggested abortion,
but...

ISAJIW: I've seen in cases
of divorce where sometimes

the woman had a hard time.

She had to bring up the children
by herself.

Uh, sometimes a little bit angry
at what had happened to her,

and she wants to protect
her children from that,

and often doesn't think
the whole thingthrough,

and may think
that abortion is a solution

because "My God, what is
my son and my daughter-in-law

going to do with this situation
if things get tough for them?"

GARY:
Yeah, she was married young

just like, uh, Sue and I was,

you know, and, uh,
she was pregnant.

ISAJIW: Uh-huh.
GARY: She was...

She had a baby
out of wedlock, also,

you know, and, um,
you know, I think it's...

She didn't want us
to get into the same bind.

ISAJIW: Mm-hmm.
GARY: You know?

My dad was always in and out
of jobs, you know, and never...

you know, just barely making it.

But, uh, I think

that's all she's trying to do
is protect us.

You know,
giving us wrong advice,

but p... trying to protect us.

ISAJIW:
That happens commonly, and

it may well be that your mother
herself does not understand,

uh, what it's all about.

A lot of times
people think of it as a decision

as to whether to have a baby
or not to have a baby.

The reality is, the baby...
You already have the baby.

-The baby is there.
GARY: Yeah.

ISAJIW: And the question is
what to do with the baby.

NANCY:
It was Christmas morning

when I told Larry what hap--

what happened to me and I--

and I thought
I was pregnant, you know?

Um, they didn't-- we...
It was January 6.

We went down to the Reproductive
Health & Counseling Center

and got blood tests.

I got, um, pregnancy test,
and they told me, uh,

it was positive,
and I was 16 weeks pregnant.

LARRY:
She told me that she was raped

by, um, a photographer

that she was getting pictures
taken for, and she, um...

I knew she was getting
the pictures taken,

but I did not know
that she was getting raped...

that she was raped
until Christmas.

Uh, she told me on Christmas.

NANCY:Um, he didn't...
he didn't abuse me.

He didn't beat me up
or smack me around.

He, like, just forced me
onto the coach and...

and had sex with me, and, uh,
um, it was...

It happened so fast.

And I didn't want to...
force him... force him off me,

'cause I was afraid
that maybe he would

start hitting me and...
and beating up and abusing me,

so I just let him go on
and do what he wanted to do.

LARRY:
And then...

we were gonna decide...

We decided right away
that we should have an abortion.

NANCY:
So then, like,

Larry saw this little ad
in the Town Talkpaper

saying, like,
for pregnant people,

pregnant women, you go away

-and have a baby. LARRY:
Another alternative besides...

NANCY: And there was other
alternatives to... beside that.

LARRY:
For somebody with a...

Where you could go and have
free, uh, housing and...

um, all your medical bills would
be taken care of, and, uh...

NANCY:
Right.

LARRY: And you can go live
with somebody.

NANCY: And, so,
I-I go ahead with that, um...

LARRY: We didn't know what
to do at that point.

NANCY: Right. So,
I talked to my friend Valerie,

you know, and I told her
about my problem.

Then she called up
to Crozer Hospital,

and they gave her
the hotline number to-to...

LARRY:
George Isajiw.

NANCY: Yeah, to Dr. Isajiw.
LARRY: Doctor.

NANCY:
And I...

And, like, she was talking
to the nurse on the phone.

She set up the appointment
with me.

That's when Doctor...

I went in
to see Dr. Isajiw Tuesday,

and I talked to him for, like...

I told him all about it.

Like, you know, that everything
that was happening.

And, like, then he told me
about how my...

(stammers)
If I were to have an abortion,

how the abortion
would be p-performed.

And I...

Like, a salt injection would be
injected into my stomach,

and, like, the baby
would slowly die inside of me,

like, skin be burning away.

So I said, "I'm just gonna
go ahead with the pregnancy,

"and I-I'll come live with you

so I can get the proper care
and all."

'Cause we ain't... We don't have
the money for proper care.

LARRY:
I hope I get a job, that's all.

So I can take care
of Nancy when...

when she has her...

after she has our baby,
if it's ours,

or if it's not, we're gonna
give it up for adoption.

And we might even give it up
anyway, even if it is ours.

Because, um, we're not...

We feel... I feel, anyway,

that we're not ready
to have kids yet.

'Cause we're not
financially sound.

I want to be...
When I have my kids,

I want to be financially sound.

NANCY:
Then we're gonna start planning

on having children
the proper way.

We don't want to bring
unwanted children into the world

and have them abused
like other children are.

We want to grow...

We want to raise
our children up right.

LARRY: Not like our parents.
We both come from broken homes,

and I don't want
my kids raised in...

I don't want to feel that...

I'm gonna have my kids
brought up,

and me and Nancy
are gonna split up.

-I don't want to feel that way.
NANCY: 'Cause me and Larry,

we're not...
we're not gonna split up.

We're gonna be together forever.

ISAJIW:
The heroes right here now

are A) some of the women
that I've counseled who,

in spite of the pressures
that our society puts on them

to kill their baby,
decide not to do it.

Uh, and the second set of heroes
are my own family,

especially my wife,
who has been able to give up

a tremendous number of things

that perhaps
another doctor's wife would have

if we were not involved
in this work so intensively.

PAT:
Okay, ready for grace?

ALL: Bless us, O Lord,
for these, Thy gifts,

which we are about to receive
from Thy bounty.

Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
In the name of the Father,

the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

OBENHAUS: The Isajiw family
helps women who decide

to continue their pregnancies
by offering them

a temporary home.

Nancy will be the sixth woman to
live with the family

-while awaiting the birth
of her child. NANCY: Hi.

-How you doing, Pat?
LARRY: Hello, Pat.

PAT: You know where it
all goes. LARRY: Up steps?

NANCY: All the way upstairs.
We'll just bring it right up.

PAT:
You want coffee or tea before?

NANCY: Uh, I'll have a cup
of tea. PAT: Okay.

Anybody else who would like
coffee or tea?

LARRY: I'll take a cup
of tea, too. PAT: Tea.

NANCY:
Okay.

PAT:
I was also a rape victim.

And I was found pregnant.

And I had...

Through sources, I could
have had a back-alley abortion,

which was a doctor.

It wasn't a Bloody Mary,

as, like, people like
to call them.

I couldn't do it.

I went to Saint Vincent's Home.
That was here.

They housed me, and there was
a priest that got me through it.

I put my son up for adoption.

My son is now 18 years old,

and I know he's well.

And when the girls come to me...

That's why we get
the difficult cases.

I've lived it.

I have been on both ends
of the spectrum.

And when they see
that I can make it

because I met my husband
when he was an intern.

We married,
and I had five more pregnancies,

three successful.

They see that,

they know you can live
with the decision

if it's done out of love.

And that's the message
I'm trying to get across.

Don't kill the baby,
because you don't know

what the Lord has for you
down the road.

Anybody else for tea or coffee?

NANCY: I'm so glad
I didn't get an abortion.

I am.

BARBARA:
I never could have a baby

and give it up for adoption
'cause I've alwa...

I always would wonder

where it would be.

Who it would look like and...

would I have been able
to give him

what they're giving him now?

That would be too much.

This is bad enough.

OBENHAUS:
Barbara is 17 years old.

She's the mother
of a two-year-old boy

named Michael.

BARBARA:
My boyfriend, he used to...

well, punch, slap, kick.

He hit...

Snatched me up
against a radiator one time

and sent me to the hospital
for stitches.

He gave me bloody noses,
fat lips.

Little bit of everything.

This is the letter
he wrote and, um...

The day after I asked him
to leave.

And he stuck it
in the mail slot.

"Sit down and read this...
letter very clear

"and don't let no one else
make up your mind.

"The last four days
has been hell

"without you and Mike.

"I don't know how to show you
or tell you

"how much yous mean to me,

"but all I can do is tell you...

"I love yous.

"It's not just loneliness.
It's love.

"I don't want to run your life.

"I just want to be a part of it.

"Now I know how you felt

"all those times
I kicked you out.

"But I was always sore after.

"Please let me come back.

"If you are pregnant,

"I don't want you
to do something you'll regret

"the rest of your life.

"But whatever you do,

"I would like to be there
with you.

"You don't know how happy I was
coming over there.

"I would like to spend

"the coming holidays
with you, please.

"And call-call me now.

Please call me."

(exhales)

But he hasn't come up.

He hasn't...
slipped me another letter.

He hasn't given me
any kind of message

through anybody.

So that was just another one
of his little tricks.

JENNY:
The funny thing about it,

you never know what's gonna
happen when you walk in there.

Um, you never know how many
patients there are gonna be.

You don't know how many people
you're gonna need to talk with.

You don't know
if somebody's gonna have

a lot of emotional problems.

One person can possibly drain
you for the rest of the day.

Um...

You don't know who the doctor's
necessarily gonna be

till you get in there.

Um, it's different.

It's different every single day.

Don't know if there's gonna be
picketers coming to your door.

Um, we usually expect them
on Saturday,

but you, you know,
you have to keep your guard up,

because you never know
what people are gonna do.

GIRL: Back here. PAT: You
and the girls put the sign...

JENNY:
Years ago, we had bomb threats.

Who knows if it's
ever gonna happen again.

Who knows if, uh,

anybody's gonna come to our door
and try and stop people

from doing
what they believe is right.

Um, you don't know,

and it's sometimes scary.

That frightens me.

But that's the only thing
that frightens me.

ISAJIW:
Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.

ALL: Give us this day
our daily bread;

forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those
who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

ISAJIW:
Hail Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

JENNY:
Go on in and sit down.

What I'd like you to do
is have a seat right there.

Okay.

You sure you want to carry that
around with you all day?

BARBARA: Yeah.
JENNY: Okay.

Give you something
to hold on to.

What I want to do is go over
your medical history with you.

Okay. You say that your
last period was in September.

-Was that a normal period
for you? BARBARA: Yes.

JENNY:
Was not different in any way?

Why did you stop taking
your birth control pills?

BARBARA:
I, um, I lost a lot of weight,

and I wasn't eating anything
during the day.

And when I took them, they just
didn't agree with my stomach,

and it made me sick,
so I stopped taking them.

JENNY: Is that when you
got pregnant, when you stopped?

BARBARA:
No, I had...

Couple months after.

JENNY:
Okay.

-Barbara, you have one child.
BARBARA: Yeah, right.

JENNY: How old is he?
BARBARA: He'll be two

-in three weeks.
JENNY: Two? Okay.

Had you thought about this when
you were pregnant the last time?

Had you thought
about abortion at all?

BARBARA: No.
JENNY: Mm-hmm.

Why did you, uh,
decide to have him?

BARBARA:
I don't know.

JENNY:
What makes it different now?

BARBARA:
Having him around

and, um...

worrying about him.

JENNY:
Mm-hmm.

Why?

BARBARA: 'Cause he needs
everything I have now.

JENNY: Mm-hmm.
BARBARA: And, um...

JENNY:
You mean financially?

BARBARA: And emotionally.
JENNY: Emotionally.

BARBARA:
And, um...

I'm tired
of depending on my mom.

JENNY: Mm-hmm. BARBARA:
'Cause when she takes Mike

when I say I don't have no food,
then she brings stuff up to me,

and I don't...
I depended on her too much

when I lived with Eddie
in the other house.

And I didn't want that.

So instead of calling her,
sometimes I just go hungry.

I don't worry about it.

JENNY:
How often have you gone hungry?

BARBARA:
When I first moved in, um...

I was, uh, just a couple days.

JENNY:
With nothing?

BARBARA: Eggs.
JENNY: Eggs?

BARBARA:
Just eggs. But Michael...

JENNY: Your main meal, huh?
BARBARA: Yeah.

Michael was down my mom's.

When I was
in regular school all day,

she would have him all week.
JENNY: Mm-hmm.

BARBARA: And, um,
I'd have him on the weekends.

This way I wouldn't have to walk

from 23rd Street
down to Chester High

and back with him.
JENNY: Mm-hmm.

BARBARA:
And, um, I'd come home.

-I eat eggs constantly.
-(Jenny laughs)

-Eggs and water.
JENNY: Uh-huh.

BARBARA: I never want
to see another egg. Never.

JENNY: Is it better now?
BARBARA: A little.

-Yeah. JENNY:
A little? Not much, though?

BARBARA:
I've learned how to...

stretch things more than I did.

I'm not ready
to have another one.

JENNY:
Uh-huh.

And you're sure about that?

Have you explored
all your other options?

Do you know what they are?

Can you tell me what they are?

BARBARA:
Adoption.

JENNY:
Mm-hmm.

BARBARA: And that's
the only one I've thought about,

but I wouldn't... consider that.

JENNY:
Mm-hmm.

And do you know
that there's financial aid

for women who want to continue
the pregnancy and keep it?

There are... there are ways

that things can be worked out.
Do you know that?

BARBARA:
I wouldn't.

'Cause they can't help you
forever. JENNY: Mm-hmm.

BARBARA:
And, um...

I would lose my family,

and then I would have no help
at all.

No one would be there.

JENNY: Why don't you think
they would approve?

BARBARA: They don't like
Michael's father.

JENNY:
Uh-huh.

BARBARA: And, um,
it was already said that...

My mother already told me

if it happened again...

my mother wouldn't be as kind

as she was this last time
this time.

JENNY:
Mm-hmm.

And you live on your own, right?

BARBARA: Yeah.
JENNY: Do you work?

BARBARA:
No. (clears throat)

JENNY: And how do you support
your child now?

BARBARA:
Public assistance.

Until I can get my diploma.

JENNY:
Are you going to school?

BARBARA:
Yes.

JENNY:
Good.

BARBARA:
And then I can...

I'm gonna try
to get into a school,

a business school,
and find a job.

JENNY:
Mm-hmm.

Start your life.

BARBARA:
Yeah.

JENNY:
Uh-huh. So this'll be

a start for you, then.

Does the...

other person involved
with this pregnancy, um--

that's your boyfriend, right?

Uh, he's the father
of your child?

BARBARA:
Mm-hmm.

JENNY: How does he feel
about this pregnancy?

Does he know about it?

BARBARA:
Yes.

JENNY:
Uh-huh. And how's he feeling?

BARBARA: I don't know.
I haven't seen him.

I haven't talked to him.

JENNY:
Uh-huh.

(Barbara clears throat)

Do you think he would want you
to keep the pregnancy?

BARBARA:
Yeah.

JENNY:
And how does that make you feel?

BARBARA: If I kept it,
it would be just me.

-It wouldn't be him, because...
JENNY: Why not?

BARBARA:
He'd get tired...

and... of being in one spot

and want to move around again,
like he did before.

JENNY: Mm-hmm.
BARBARA: And, um...

I'd have no help with him,

this one,
like I had with Michael.

JENNY: Mm-hmm.
Does he live with you?

BARBARA: No.
JENNY: No.

Do you still see him?

BARBARA:
No. Not in the last... months.

JENNY:
Mm-hmm. How come? What happened?

BARBARA: I got tired
of the things he did

and said and the way he acted,
and I asked him to leave.

JENNY: Mm-hmm.
BARBARA: He seen me starting

to grow up,
and he didn't like it.

That's what it was.

I was making friends
other than him.

He didn't believe
you needed anybody but him,

and... he didn't like that.

He didn't want me
to finish school,

to go onto anything else,
because he didn't.

And he didn't want...

to think that I was gonna be...

um, smarter than him
or do better

-than what he's doing now.
JENNY: Mm-hmm.

BARBARA:
And, um, he didn't like the idea

of going back to school.

JENNY:
That's a shame, isn't it?

BARBARA: That's what I said.
-(laughs)

That's just a shame.
(laughs)

If it was... I said,
"If it wasn't for you,

I'd be graduating
this year, a senior."

And I said, "Now look at me.

I'm a year behind my class.
I can't make it up." I said...

JENNY:
Well, you're not doing too bad

for yourself right now.

Let's face it,
you're living on your own...

which doesn't happen
to a lot of people.

Okay? You're taking care
of yourself.

You're taking care
of a two-year-old child.

You're going to school.

You're doing something
about your life.

You're not sitting back

and-and letting the world
pass you by.

And that's pretty darn good.

BARBARA:
I'm gonna get a piece of it.

ALL:
Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners...

(vehicles passing)

(crow cawing)

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour
of death, amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour
of our death, amen.

MAN:
Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

(speaking indistinctly)

JENNY: Okay,
you're gonna go right in here.

It's okay. Come on in.
Just go right to the table.

Okay, turn around.

I'll take your purse.
And just sit down for a minute.

Okay?

Cold?

BARBARA:
Yeah, it's cold in here.

JENNY:
I'll see what I can do

about getting you
a blanket, okay?

Now, just go back for me?

Now, while you're laying there,

I need you to scoot up
some more towards me, okay?

And I'll tell you when to stop,
so keep coming.

Keep coming.

That's fine.

Okay, Barb,

Dr. Moranz and I will be back...

in just a few minutes.

So I'll give you a few minutes
to be by yourself.

Okay? You're sure this is what
you want to do, now, right?

Okay.

Here. You can put this
over your arms.

You want to cover?

BARBARA: Yeah, it keeps me
warm. JENNY: Okay.

I'll work my hands underneath
to hold yours, okay?

All right. I'll be with you
in a few minutes.

(footsteps departing)

(door closes)

Barbara? This is Dr. Moranz.

MORANZ:
Hi, Barbara.

Barbara, I just want to check
your uterus first.

Size.

Your last period was the 20th?

Of September?

BARBARA: Yeah,
I don't know the exact date.

JENNY:
You can have this, okay?

BARBARA:
Thank you.

(indistinct chatter)

I'm just gonna get
a few things ready,

and I'll be with you
in just a minute, okay?

(metallic tools clacking,
scraping nearby)

Barbara, the first thing
you're gonna feel is a speculum.

Okay? It's gonna be real cold.

And you're gonna feel
some pressure from it.

Your hands...

Okay?

You're gonna feel a pinch.

And it's gonna go away
as fast as it comes.

That's it, easy does it.

You're gonna feel some pulling,
you're gonna feel a sting,

and you're gonna feel
some pressure.

Just breathe nice and slow.

Easy does it.

Good.

(stifled crying)

It's okay.

It's all right.

-(sniffles)
-(whispers): It's okay.

Sting and some pressure.

-Easy does it.
-(stifled crying)

Easy does it. Easy.

Squeeze my hand.

You might feel
a little cramp now.

(stifled crying)

(metallic tools clacking)

You might feel lots of pulling
and maybe some cramps, okay?

Just hang in there.

-You're doing really well.
-(crying)

Easy does it.

-Okay. Take it all in.
-(inhales)

-Let it out.
-(panting)

Out all the way.

-Easy does it.
BARBARA: Ow...

JENNY: Easy.
BARBARA (quietly): Ow.

JENNY: Easy does it.
-(pants)

-(crying)
-This is it.

-It's the last one.
-(grunts)

Okay, I'll be right with you.

Hang on here for just a second.

Be right with you, Barb.

BARBARA (groans):
Oh...

(Barbara grunts)

MORANZ: Barbara,
you'll feel a bubbly sensation.

BARBARA:
Uh-huh.

(loud whirring)

JENNY: You'll feel
some cramps now, okay?

I know the cramps
aren't feeling... good.

(groans)

(whirring continues)

They're the ones
you're allowed to have.

(groans)

Easy. Just breathe
nice and slow, Barb. Slow.

Real slow.

-(groans)
-Real slow, honey.

-(sobbing)
-It's okay.

(whirring continues)

MORANZ: You're gonna hear
some air, Barbara.

JENNY: It's just air.
-(air hissing)

(machine turns off)

-(crying quietly)
-Easy does it.

-(crying)
-It's okay.

Barbara, what are you feeling?

(grunts quietly)

Is it hurting?

-(mumbles)
-No?

(crying)

BARBARA:
Not physically.

JENNY:
Okay.

(panting)

(groans)

(panting)

MORANZ:
Okay.

(panting)

JENNY: Barbara, you're gonna
hear the machine go on again.

(groans)

(loud whirring)

MORANZ: Now you're gonna feel
some cramping, Barbara.

JENNY:
Okay.

MORANZ: 'Cause your uterus
is contracting.

JENNY:
It's okay.

Easy. Breath. Slow.

Breathe.

Easy does it.

-Easy.
-(quiet groaning)

(air hissing)

That's more air.

BARBARA: Ow...
JENNY: Easy.

Is it hurting
right in the middle?

BARBARA: Yeah.
JENNY: Okay.

-(grunting) -Well, these cramps
you're supposed to get.

That means the uterus
is tightening up.

(air hisses)

It's doing what it's supposed
to be doing, okay?

-(groaning)
-Relax this part of the neck.

Let your neck come back down.
Let your neck go back down.

-Let it come down.
-(groaning)

Let it come down.

(air hissing)

(groaning)

(machine turns off)

-(panting)
-Barbara?

Barbara? Listen to me.

I want you to take
a deep breath in,

and I want you to hold it.

Listen to me.

-Take a deep breath in.
-(inhales)

Hold it.

-Now let it all out.
-(exhales)

MORANZ: Barb,
you're gonna hear the machine

for about four seconds,
and we're all through.

(panting, grunting quietly)

-(loud whirring)
-(groans)

(machine turns off)

(Barbara groans quietly)

JENNY: Scoot your legs
back together

so you're
more comfortable, okay?

(groans quietly)

-What's the matter?
BARBARA: It hurts.

JENNY:
Okay. It's allowed to hurt.

Okay?

Something's bothering you now?

What else?
BARBARA: Everything.

JENNY:
What do you mean, everything?

(panting)

It's gone. Yes.

And that hurts.

Okay?

You've chose to have this done,

but something has still
been taken away from you.

And that doesn't feel good.

It's even tougher when you
already have... one child

and you love it a lot
and take care of it

and do the best you can...

to have to go through
something like this.

Okay?
(grunts quietly)

So be upset because of that.

Okay?

(indistinct chatter nearby)

(bells chiming)

(bells continue chiming
in distance)

In the end, no matter how
any of us feel about abortion,

beyond the rhetoric
of answers on both sides,

it is the individual who must
face the question... alone.

♪ ♪

Next week, a tragic drama
is being played out in Zimbabwe,

the hope of black Africa.

Three years ago this month,
Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia,

won its independence.

Now the hope
for a peaceful transition

to black majority rule
is being seriously tested.

"Frontline"shows evidence of
a massacre by government troops,

and looks
at the problems being faced

by Prime Minister Mugabe.

Charlie Cobb reports
on the crisis in Zimbabwe.

That is next week on
"Frontline".

I'm Jessica Savitch.

♪ ♪