Zebra Fact Check reached out to Victoria Knight of Kaiser Family Foundation and PolitiFact in an attempt to resolve discrepant reporting by those two entities.
We used an online form to inquire about an apparent mistake on abortion law we found on a Kaiser Family Foundation web page. After about a week of continued inaction, Zebra Fact check reached out to KFF and PolitiFact reporter Victoria Knight to resolve the apparent contradiction between KFF’s reporting and PolitiFact’s.
Please note that Knight has no apparent role in the apparent discrepancy. Knight just happens to write for both organizations.
We will update this item when and if we receive any response.
Dear Victoria Knight,
It seems KFF and PolitiFact have issued conflicting reports. I’m writing to you not because you’re responsible for the conflict but because your dual role with KFF and PolitiFact perhaps positions you well to resolve it.
At KFF.org, on a page describing “abortions later in pregnancy,” the Dec. 5, 2019 article offers the following as its introduction (bold emphasis added):
Abortions occurring at or after 21 weeks gestational age are rare. They are often difficult to obtain, as they are typically costly, time-intensive and only performed by a small subset of abortion providers. Yet these abortions receive a disproportionate amount of attention in the news, policy and the law, and discussions on this topic are often fraught with misinformation; for example, intense public discussions have been sparked after several policymakers have theorized about abortions occurring “moments before birth” or even “after birth.” In reality, these scenarios do not occur, nor are they legal, in the U.S.
KFF offers no support for the assertion that a “moments before birth” abortion conflicts with U.S. law. Of course there exists a federal prohibition on “partial birth” abortion, but that’s has to do with procedure, not timing.
And what does PolitiFact say?
On Feb. 27, 2020, PolitiFact Texas reported:
State law in Virginia allows doctors to perform abortions up until the moment of birth, but only in cases when three physicians certify that a continued pregnancy is likely to result in the death of the woman.
PolitiFact Texas offers no hint that federal law negates the Virginia law allowing abortions until the moment of birth.
Because no such federal law exists?
I’d appreciate any help you can deliver in resolving the discrepancy.
