It's stories like this that piss me off about that phrase "elective abortion"--

[Starry Messenger]

actually, there is nothing about that phrase that *doesn't* piss me off, but this is just an extra push into the rage spectrum...

via Jezebel: I Was the Victim of an Abortion Scam

<snip>

After half an hour, I get three receipts: $250 for the first visit, $550 for the pill, $250 for the post-op, but none for the surgical abortion. We argue for another 15 minutes before I realize I'm wasting my breath; they have their repertoire down. I leave with the receipts clenched in a fist.

<snip>

I gather that after receiving payment from me ($1,300 for the pill, surgical abortion and post-op), they are submitting claims to my insurance company. They will not give me the itemized receipt for the surgical abortion because if they do, then the payment would be made to me.

This clinic is one of many that provides services that give women more choices and more freedom with their body. Their "Commitment to Women's Health" motto on their website sounds lovely and supportive, except when the pile of hidden bills come crashing down afterward.

When it's piggybacking on the taboo and guilt already present in the horrific situation, women are less likely to protest unfair treatment or question medical costs; their hearts are in their throats and all they want is to have a choice. That being said, what quality of choice is it if before you are allowed to see the doctor, you have to pay a $250 flat fee? Or in the middle of a visit, while you're standing in a medical gown, you have to pull out your wallet again?

<snip>

[FloridaJudy]

1. I worked in a women run/women directed clinic that did abortions

For almost five years. We would never, ever have treated a client this way! Every woman had a counselor to hold her hand and support her through the procedure. There was a comfy recovery room where women could rest until they felt capable of managing on their own (and I drove a fair number home myself, even though it was against the rules). And we were happy to give the client a complete copy of her medical records and an itemized bill. Unfortunately, we eventually went broke trying to deliver high quality medical care at low cost.

This woman ran afoul of an abortion mill. I've heard of even worse places.

Smart women with the resources can to do some research before any medical procedure. As for the poor and the terrified, they're usually the targets of the unscrupulous. At least this clinic did abortions: too many that advertise the service are fronts for the anti-choice crowd.

[Starry Messenger]

2. Your place sounds like it was awesome.

I've never heard of anything like this, an abortion mill. *Shudder*. I've heard of the places that are anti-choice and sucker women in and show them pro-life movies. But it scares me that any place with a mission to give you a medical treatment could be so callous and slipshod. It's like taking you hostage, since it isn't anything you can delay.

[FloridaJudy]

3. Yeah, well, as I said, we went broke

It was a non-profit run by a women's collective. Almost none of us worked there full-time; we had second jobs that paid better. The only one who made any money was the doctor, and he was driving a ten-year-old Toyota. There were two other clinics in town that weren't bad, but they charged more.

We're down to one clinic here now. The pressure on staff is just too high. Getting death threats and having your house picketed and your tires slashed on a regular basis can be discouraging, to say the least. At that we were lucky. No one was bombed or shot.

I really, really hate those fanatics!

[REP]

4. It's a medical term; "elective" vs "emergent"

The surgery I'm having on my shoulder is elective. It is needed and necessary, but it does not have to be done immediately and/or to save my life/prevent loss of the limb. There are emergent abortions, and though my abortion was medically indicated (my kidney disease is very, very incompatible with pregnancy), it was still elective when it was done.

Elective does not mean "optional" or "trivial" or "cosmetic."