NEW YORK — Dr. Bernard N. Nathanson, an early abortion rights champion who had a change of heart and became a prominent anti-abortion activist, died at the age of 84 in New York City.
Nathanson died Monday at his Manhattan home after a long fight with cancer, said his wife, Christine.
Nathanson was an obstetrician-gynecologist who helped found the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Lawsin 1969 , now called NARAL Pro-Choice America.
While operating an abortion clinic in New York, Nathanson developed misgivings about the procedure. The use of ultrasound images led to his change of heart, he said.
After joining the anti-abortion movement, Nathanson lectured internationally. He was a frequent visitor to the Ronald Reagan White House and narrated the anti-abortion film "The Silent Scream," which depicts the abortion of a fetus.
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