This story has been told before, but due to his presidential candidacy it's important to repeat the fact that Rick and Karen Santorum had an abortion to save Karen's life.
In the 19th week of her pregnancy, Karen discovered during a routine exam that the fetus she was carrying had a fatal defect and was going to die inside of her. A long-shot surgery was performed that required cutting directly into the womb. It carried a high risk of infection and was performed not to save the fetus, but to reduce Karen’s complications while she attempted to go full term.
Two days later, she became severely feverish. She was rushed to the hospital and placed on intravenous antibiotics, which reduced her fever and bought her some time, but could not eliminate the source of infection: the fetus.
Karen was going to die if her pregnancy was not ended, if the fetus was not removed from her body. So, at 20 weeks, one month before what doctors consider ‘viability’, labor was artificially induced and the infected fetus was delivered. It died shortly thereafter.
This is technically an abortion. A tragic and terrible event in anyone's life. And in the case of the Santorums, thank goodness it was legal -- especially for a late term pregnancy. Now Rick Santorum wants to tell you, your wife, your daughter, or your friend that she should die to save the life of the fetus. You know, because they're "pro-life."