Last week, the Arizona State legislator
voted in favor of the new Women’s Health
Protection Act (HB-2284), which does three basic things:
·
First, it requires abortion clinics
to meet the same Department of Health
Services (DHS) standards of
safety and inspection as any other clinic or surgical center in the state.
·
Second, it makes it a Class 1 Misdemeanor
to aid or assist a minor in receiving an abortion, without parental or guardian
consent.
·
Third, it requires that abortion
clinics report botched abortions whenever the child is born alive and it
requires the clinic report what (if any) steps are subsequently taken to save
that child’s life.
Regrettably, the vote was straight
down party lines … making one wonder if the democrats have any moral composition
at all. For a party that touts itself as
being pro-women, it sure seems odd that every one of them would vote against a
law which would improve safety and equipment standards in clinics designed
specifically to serve female patients.
Regarding the first issue: As it
currently stands, county and/or state DHS
inspectors are prohibited from snap or random inspections of abortion clinics (except
upon obtaining a search warrant). Inspectors
are also prohibited from routine inspections except upon re-licensure (once
every two years). Out of all the other
medical facilities in the state, abortion clinics are given a total pass in the
area of safety and health inspection standards. So even if the authorities receive complaints
and suspect abuse of the laws, they are not allowed to inspect the clinics in a
timely manner. According to the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), “DHS should have the authority to perform reasonable cause,
unannounced inspections of abortion clinics, just as they do with every other
type of health care institution.” HB-2284
supports that view.
Regarding the second issue: Arizona’s
Parental Consent statues require that prior to a minor having an abortion,
written, notarized consent must be obtained by the provider from a parent or
guardian. However, currently if an
abortion provider violates the law, there are no legal penalties which can be
imposed, so there’s no risk involved in coercing a 12-year-old girl to have an
abortion. But HB-2284 would change that,
even if the child is taken out of state to avoid the Parental Consent law, and
make it a Class 1 Misdemeanor … which carries a maximum fine of up to $2500.00
and six months in jail.
Finally, regarding the botched
abortion issue: In 2012, “LiveAction”
television went undercover and caught Dr. Mercer, an Arizona abortion doctor,
stating that at 23-week gestation (a baby) “... doesn’t even look like a baby
yet ...” According to several studies,
over 50% of all babies born at 23-weeks survive and thrive. The same undercover video also caught an
abortion assistant admitting that if an infant survived an abortion, nothing
would be done to try and save the child’s life. Current Arizona Statute mandates that
physicians have a duty to promote the life of any fetus delivered alive. Yet Dr. Mercer’s flagrant lies and disregard
for the Hippocratic Oath and current Arizona laws exemplify why state
legislators must be more aggressive in ensuring that abortion providers adhere
to the same standards of practice as any other healthcare provider. At an absolute minimum it will require that
abortion clinics report all botched abortions (live births) to the authorities,
as well as what measures (if any) the medical personnel took to save the
child’s life.
Governor Jan Brewer signed HB-2284
into law … another victory for Arizona’s thriving pro-life movement.
I commend the bill’s sponsor, Rep.
Debbie Lesko, who championed the legislation of HB-2284, and Governor Brewer
for standing up to the attacks and distortions from Planned Parenthood.
While I rejoice in yet another state
victory for life, the work will never be done until every woman and pre-born
child is protected from the dangerous and deadly practices of Planned Parenthood and the abortion
industry.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
No comments:
Post a Comment