As the place of abortion coverage in health care rises to the nation's attention, the American people have been told that abortion is a medical procedure like any other. The infamous comparison of abortion to the removal of tonsils has sparked public outcry, but it is not the first time such a notion was suggested. The National Abortion Federation writes on its websites that, "abortion is one of the most common and safest medical procedures."

So while the abortion industry sticks to this talking point, our neighbors to the north discovered that behind the rhetoric lies an inconvenient truth: abortion is called a medical procedure, but in practice, many clinics ignore medical standards that are present in every other operating room.

For this reason, the Canadian province of Quebec began to crack down on the standards of clinics. Canadian media reports that some clinics are so below the health criterion of an operating room, that they are simply closing.

The Canadian health care system, one which President Obama's health care reform is touted to resemble, is enforcing medical norms in operating rooms. Once medical standards are applied to abortion, however, the abortion industry is quick to say it is completely different than any other medical procedure. The article features an interview with Dr. Francine Léger, a Canadian abortionist, who said, "We don't need that kind of setting to do an abortion."

So let's review : The abortion industry says that abortion is just another medical procedure, but it should not be subject to any medical standards because it's different than other surgical procedures.

The abortion industry can't have it both ways. It is time they publicly admit what they privately acknowledge in practice. Abortion is NOT just another medical procedure. Unlike any other surgery, it begins with two beating heats and ends with only one. It takes away one life and adds emotional trauma to another.

While the Canadian health care system is quick to write-off abortion as just another procedure, Americans should not make the same mistake. Funding of abortion through public health care or taxpayer funded programs is a violation of not only taxpayers' rights and consciences, but also a violation of the best interest of women.