Featured Abortion Before Roe v Wade - a question for the elders

You are correct in both statements.

 

The number of back alley abortions was greatly exaggerated. Furthermore abortions were legal in some states, New York for one.

 

I believe the same thing. Even though I didn't know about states like NY.

For one thing, botched abortions that result in death or hospitalization of the mother can't be hidden very well within a community. Once I became old enough to be aware of such things, it was extremely rare to hear of this happening. Maybe only a couple of cases at most during the years that led up to 1973.

Further, there's no way of knowing how many in the medical profession quietly took care of a "problem" within their circle of friends and family.

And, finally, we all know, or should know, how numbers can be manipulated. News headline screams -- Murder rate DOUBLES in xyz small town. Hue and cry for better law enforcement. A close look at the numbers shows that murders increased from 1 to 2 during the time periods compared.