Former Abortion Provider's 1980 Warning Still Relevant

Dr. Bernard Nathanson's change of heart on abortion highlighted in letter to the editor.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The late Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a former abortion provider who co-founded what is now NARAL Pro-Choice America, experienced a profound change of heart after learning about prenatal development and came down on the side of the unborn child. In a 1980 speech in Cleveland, Nathanson accepted personal responsibility for the deaths of 75,000 unborn children killed at his clinic and said the development of technologies like electronic fetal monitoring and ultrasound aided his dramatic shift on abortion.

Why it matters

Nathanson's change of heart and his 1980 speech in Cleveland provide a unique perspective from someone who was previously a leading advocate for abortion rights. His words continue to resonate and convey the moral complexity of the abortion debate.

The details

In the 1970s, Nathanson operated the largest free-standing abortion clinic in the western world in New York City. However, after learning more about prenatal development, he experienced a profound change of heart and accepted personal responsibility for the deaths of 75,000 unborn children killed at his clinic. Nathanson said the development of technologies like electronic fetal monitoring and ultrasound aided his dramatic shift on abortion.

  • Nathanson gave a speech at the Ohio Right to Life Society convention in Cleveland in 1980.

The players

Dr. Bernard Nathanson

A former abortion provider who co-founded what is now NARAL Pro-Choice America, but later experienced a profound change of heart and came down on the side of the unborn child.

Barbara Latini

A resident of South Euclid, Ohio who wrote a letter to the editor referencing Nathanson's 1980 speech.

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What they’re saying

“I teach medical students at Cornell and Columbia. The problem of low medical ethics is not in the medical schools, but with parents. You don't learn respect for life in high school, you don't learn decency in college, nor ethics in medical school. The way parents bring up their children accounts for their attitudes.”

— Dr. Bernard Nathanson (2015 guest column by Louis H. Pumphrey)

The takeaway

Nathanson's change of heart and his 1980 speech in Cleveland provide a unique perspective from someone who was previously a leading advocate for abortion rights. His words continue to resonate and convey the moral complexity of the abortion debate.