A CHALLENGE TO COME

The bill faces a possible challenge from President Clinton, who has said he would not support any bill that does not protect a woman's life and health. It would allow exceptions to save the life of the mother, but would ban the technique for health reasons. But Cole notes that the is no all-purpose medical definition of when a woman's life is threatened by pregnancy, making each case a subjective one and casting doubt over what would be permitted under the bill. "Doctors are even wondering if this could even be interpreted as a ban on any kind of third-trimester abortion."