Abortion provider Hern says he performs abortions up to 26 or even 34 weeks of pregnancy.

In a recent column on Slate.com, Hern questions whether the congressional ban on partial-birth abortion might impact his practice.

That ban specifically talks about abortions in which the fetus is still alive outside the womb.

Hern makes sure that will not happen; he gives the fetus an injection to stop its heart as the first step in his process.

Meanwhile, NE abortionist LeRoy Carhart said about 500 abortions that he performs yearly would be outlawed by the late-term measure. [Lincoln Journal Star; 3Nov03; Sandra Fish, 2Nov03 http://www.bouldernews.com/bdc/county_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2423_23963; PLE-news, #284, 4Nov03