Your editorial "Cynics" in Thursday’s paper highlights the fact that many survivors of sexual assault need safe, legal abortions. Unfortunately, creating a rape exception to sweeping abortion bans would do a disservice to many victims.

In Texas, only one in five rape victims reports the crime to the police. Even fewer survivors seek medical attention. Too many survivors are embarrassed or afraid of their attackers, and do not tell anyone about their assault. Even their doctors. If abortions are only available to women who come forward and identify themselves as rape victims, some will go without help.

And what happens if doctors or judges are required to investigate a claim of abuse or assault before a woman can have an abortion? Would the process of declaring a woman an official "victim" occur privately and quickly? What standard of evidence would be used? What if a perpetrator does not go to trial for nine months? What if he is acquitted on a technicality?

Furthermore, if reproductive services (from emergency contraception to abortion) are only available to rape survivors, some women may falsely claim that they were assaulted. An even deeper cynicism than we see today would develop toward women and girls who come forward and say that they were raped. In addition to jaded questions about her morality and judgment, a victim would be subjected to the insinuation that she is only reporting a rape to access abortion services. That is cynicism we can do without.

Annette Burrhus-Clay
Executive Director
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
www.taasa.org