Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, running against Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in Illinois, told reporters Thursday night that there should be no abortion exception for the "life of the mother" because "with modern technology and science, you can't find one instance" in which a woman would actually die, according to a radio station. Walsh, of course, is flat wrong. 
 
 "There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing," Walsh continued. The comments were first reported by the Illinois radio station WGN. 
 
 "There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology," Walsh said, according to the video above. CREDO super PAC, which is opposing Walsh, tipped HuffPost to the comments. 
 
 Walsh's remarks echo Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), who similarly relied on an ignorance of science and medicine to proclaim a belief that women's bodies are able to prevent pregnancy in cases of "legitimate rape." 
 
 "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume maybe that didn't work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist," Akin said, setting off a firestorm before the Republican National Convention, including calls for him to resign from the race. Akin now trails his Senate race against Democrat Claire McCaskill. 
 
 GOP establishment figures attempted to cast Akin as a lone extremist whose views are outside the mainstream of the party. But Walsh's fresh comments make that distinction more difficult to maintain. 
 
 Walsh and Akin, along with GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan (Wis.) cosponsored legislation that would have redefined rape as "forcible rape." 
 
 Walsh previously defended Akin during what he called a "pile on" in comments reported by HuffPost partner Elmhurst Patch. 
 
 “What he said was offensive, insulting and wrong, but I’m bothered by this rush to pile on," Walsh said. "And I’m bothered by the silence of members of our own party to stand up for him.” 
 
 Walsh wouldn't have to go far to find a counter-example that undermines his medical theory. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) has spoken movingly on the House floor about needing an emergency procedure to terminate a pregnancy that threatened her life. 
 
 There could be several medical reasons for a woman to need to terminate her pregnancy in order to protect her life or health, but the most common is an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies, or pregnancies that occur outside the uterus, are a life-threatening condition that occur in one in every 40 to one in every 100 pregnancies, according to the National Institutes of Health. The developing fetus must be removed in those cases in order to save the mother. 
 
 UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. -- Planned Parenthood Action Fund released the following statement Friday from Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens in response to Walsh's statements: 
 
 “Joe Walsh’s ignorance about women’s health is alarming. It is deeply troubling that he and some politicians have such a fundamental disregard for women and women’s health. As the advocate for Planned Parenthood health centers, we know that ending a pregnancy can often be a very complex, personal decision and that there are absolutely times that a woman’s life depends on it," the statement reads. 
 
 “If Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are elected, these ignorant statements will be more than words -- they would become law. Joe Walsh and the Tea Party Congress are ready to completely ban abortion, and Mitt Romney has said that he ‘would be delighted’ to sign an abortion ban into law. The Romney/Ryan ticket has promised that they would put women’s personal medical decisions in the hands of politicians like Joe Walsh and Todd Akin.” 

 Life Of The Mother: Never A Reason For Abortion, Congressman Says 
 
 Enlarge this image toggle caption Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Charles Rex Arbogast/AP 
 
 During a televised debate Thursday on Chicago's WTTW, Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) reiterated his opposition to abortion in any circumstance. It's similar to the Republican Party's national platform, which doesn't have any exceptions for abortion in the case of rape or incest. Walsh is taking it a step further — banning abortion to save the life of the mother. 
 
 "I'm pro life without exception. Understand though, that when we talk about exceptions, we talk about rape, incest, health of a woman, life of a woman. Life of the woman is not an exception," he said. 
 
 Tammy Duckworth, Walsh's Democratic opponent in Illinois' 8th congressional district race immediately denounced Walsh, saying the incumbent congressman would let a woman die rather than permit her access to abortion. Walsh contradicted her, saying she was unfair. 
 
 Walsh didn't have time to explain his stance more fully during the event, and reporters questioned him afterward. CNN says Walsh claimed "there's no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology. Health of the mother has been, has become a tool for abortions any time under any reason." 
 
 When questioned by WGN radio, Walsh seemed to indicate that women no longer face life threatening pregnancies: "Absolutely. With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance." 
 
 Walsh's biological knowledge of women's reproductive health is off, notes the Huffington Post, which points to statistics from the National Institutes of Health. One risk women may face during pregnancy is a life threatening ectopic pregnancy; this occurs when a fetus forms outside the uterus. The fetus cannot survive. The NIH estimates an ectopic pregnancy can "occur in 1 in every 40 to 1 in every 100 pregnancies". 
 
 Walsh's statement is reminiscent of controversial Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.). Earlier this year, Akin triggered an uproar by remarking that women can't get pregnant if they're raped. He said, "if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down". Akin later apologized, saying he "misspoke" by failing to communicate the empathy he has for rape and abuse victims. 
 
 Update at 1:41 p.m. ET. Pregnancy Not 'Risk-Free Life Event': 
 
 The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a statement about this issue a short while ago. They say Walsh's comments are simply not accurate. Pregnancy, they say, is "not a risk-free life event." 
 
 The statement continues: 

 Republican Rep. Joe Walsh and Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth used the final face-to-face meeting of their campaign Thursday night to stress differences over the future of Medicare , a program she said should be a “guarantee” but one he said “would end as we know it” unless reformed.Meeting for a half-hour on WTTW ’s “ Chicago Tonight ,” the two candidates in the 8th Congressional District displayed a vastly more civil attitude to each other than during their previous get together this month.Still, the hopefuls also had several combative moments, particularly over entitlements and abortion rights.Duckworth and Walsh are vying Nov. 6 to represent parts of the northwest and west suburbs in one of the most closely-watched and bitter campaigns in the nation.Walsh, the tea party icon known for controversial statements, said his election to Congress in 2010 was part of an effort “to help educate the American people” about the excesses of government under Democratic President Barack Obama ’s administration.Duckworth defended herself against Walsh’s prior criticism that she had used her military service for political purposes. “I am proud of my military service,” said Duckworth, who lost both legs in an Iraq War helicopter crash. “It is part of who I am.”But the centerpiece of the discussion involved the future of Medicare and Walsh’s support for a House Republican-backed budget plan authored by the GOP ’s vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan of Janesville, Wis.The Ryan budget plan would leave the government-funded health care plan for the elderly in place for those age 55 and older, but offer those 54 and under a choice of the current system or a federal subsidy to purchase health care coverage.Walsh lashed out at Duckworth’s support for Obama’s signature health-care overhaul and contended it would cut $716 billion from Medicare, money trimmed from anticipated growth in the program.But Duckworth quickly noted that the House GOP budget backed by Walsh also would eliminate $716 billion from the program. Mitt Romney proposes to keep those funds in Medicare,” Walsh responded. The answer emphasized the contrast between the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee’s spending plan and that of the presidential candidate.Duckworth repeatedly accused Walsh of wanting to “put seniors out on the streets with a voucher” for health care.The House GOP budget plan, she said, “would end Medicare as we know it.” But Walsh responded, “If we don’t end it as it is, it’s going to end as we know it all by itself.”The two candidates also clashed on abortion rights.Walsh said he was against abortion “without exception,” including rape, incest and in cases in which the life or health of the mother was in jeopardy.Asked by reporters after the debate if he was saying that it’s never medically necessary to conduct an abortion to save the life of a mother, Walsh responded, “Absolutely.”“With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance,” he said. “... There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing.”Walsh is running on his record and outlined his philosophy by saying he “generally tried to make a rule when I went to Washington that I was going to try to cut government spending wherever I could.”Yet the one-term congressman also acknowledged voting for millions of dollars in government funding to sponsor NASCAR stock cars, saying he felt it was a valuable recruitment tool for the military.With only weeks remaining in the contentious campaign, both candidates were asked at the outset to say something they respected about the other.Duckworth said she believed Walsh “loves this country” and said that attitude, properly applied, could “go a long way” in serving the people of the district.Walsh said Duckworth’s “sense of duty” in moving forward from her war injuries to run for Congress was “incredibly noble.”Tribune reporter Bob Secter contributed. 

 Asked by reporters after the debate if he was saying that it’s never medically necessary to conduct an abortion to save the life of a mother, Walsh responded, “Absolutely.” “With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance,” he said. “... There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing.” 
 
 Turn the "Republican Congressman Saying Ridiculous Thing About Abortion" sign back to zero! During a debate last night, incumbent Illinois congressman Joe Walsh declared that he's against abortion rights without exception, including life of the mother, a position on which elaborated later : 
 
 Needless to say, Walsh's claim is as false as a giant crate of false teeth manufactured by False Teeth Incorporated. Ectopic pregnancies are but one example of a condition that may require an abortion to save the mother's life. Such a pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants itself somewhere outside of the uterus — usually, in the fallopian tubes. Ectopic pregnancies are often aborted because, if they're not, the mother can die. From the CDC: 

 3 years ago 
 
 (CNN) – Rep. Joe Walsh, a Republican engaged in a heated battle for re-election in Illinois against Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth, questioned Thursday the necessity of allowing abortions if a mother's life is at risk, saying such an exemption to an abortion ban was simply a tool by pro-choice activists. 
 
 Speaking after a debate with his opponent, Walsh seemed to suggest medical advances made dangerous pregnancies rare. 
 
 
 
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 "This is an issue that opponents of life throw out there to make us look unreasonable," Walsh said. "There's no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology. Health of the mother has been, has become a tool for abortions any time under any reason." 
 
 Walsh and his Democratic opponent Duckworth made headlines earlier this year as Walsh, a first-term congressman elected with wide tea party support, sharply criticized Duckworth for talking too much about her military service on the campaign trail. 
 
 A Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Iraq, Duckworth lost both legs and the use of one arm when her crew was shot down in 2004. She was later awarded the Purple Heart and continues to serve as a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard. 
 
 The question of when to allow exceptions to a ban on abortion sprung up in August when Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri said pregnancies rarely resulted in cases of "legitimate rape." 
 
 Democrats slammed Akin for the remarks, and some national Republicans, including GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, encouraged Akin to withdraw from his Senate bid.
– Looks like Joe Walsh won't be getting off Jon Stewart's list of the craziest guys in Congress any time soon: Last night in a debate with his opponent, Democrat Tammy Duckworth, the Illinois rep and Tea Party favorite explained that he is "pro-life without exception." He continued, "Understand though, that when we talk about exceptions, we talk about rape, incest, health of a woman, life of a woman. Life of the woman is not an exception." Duckworth accused Walsh of allowing a woman to die rather than get an abortion, and Walsh said that was unfair. After the debate, he explained further to the press, NPR reports. He told CNN: "This is an issue that opponents of life throw out there to make us look unreasonable. There's no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology. Health of the mother has been, has become a tool for abortions any time under any reason." He told WGN: "With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance … there is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing." That's just not true, ThinkProgress points out: Pregnancy-related deaths are actually on the rise. Daily Intel notes that ectopic pregnancies, in particular, are dangerous. And the Huffington Post has video of one of Walsh's fellow members of Congress talking, on the House floor, about a pregnancy that nearly killed her. Not surprisingly, many are referring to this as Walsh's Todd Akin moment.