A recent opinion piece published in Canada’s Western Standard has raised serious concerns about late-term abortions in Alberta. The article reveals that one in four late-term abortions in the province resulted in a baby being born alive, and many of these infants were left without medical care.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported that there were 133 late-term abortions in Alberta during the 2023-2024 year. Pro-life researchers analyzed this data and found that 28 of those procedures resulted in live births. These were not just clusters of cells; they were living babies, evident from their cries and movements. Alarmingly, instead of receiving the necessary medical attention, many of these infants were abandoned.
The author of the piece, Melissa Ohden, shares her personal story as a survivor of a failed abortion. In 1977, her mother was forced to undergo an abortion at 31 weeks of pregnancy. After several days of medical procedures intended to end her life, Melissa was born alive and eventually placed in a neonatal intensive care unit, where she survived and was later adopted.
Ohden emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity of these infants. She points out that in the United States, approximately 10,000 late-term abortions occur each year, and if the same rate of live births applies, around 2,500 infants could be born alive annually. However, there are no federal requirements in the U.S. to report these cases, leading to a significant gap in understanding the issue.
The lack of consistent reporting across states means that many cases go untracked. Some states, like Minnesota, allow abortions at any stage of pregnancy without restrictions. This absence of data fuels arguments from those who oppose protections for infants born alive after abortion attempts. Critics often claim that these babies are too premature or sick to survive, but Ohden argues that the medical community routinely cares for premature and critically ill infants.
Ohden calls for stronger federal legislation to ensure that every baby born alive after an abortion is given medical care. She advocates for mandatory reporting of these cases, as well as long-term support for both the child and the mother. The aim is to prevent any infant from being left to die without intervention.
The piece concludes with a poignant question: How many babies survive abortions but are lost due to a lack of accountability and care? Ohden’s message is clear: these children deserve recognition, protection, and the chance to live. Every child who survives an abortion should be treated with dignity and respect.
