House GOP Proposes So-Called ‘Let Women Die’ Bill That Lets Hospitals Deny Life-Savin

[FArchivist]

In their latest assault on women’s health, this week House Republicans will take up HR 358, the ironically titled “Protect Life Act.” Opponents have rechristened the measure the “Let Women Die” bill because it would allow hospitals that receive federal funds to turn away a woman seeking an abortion in all circumstances, even if an abortion is necessary to save her life (http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/10/12/341070/house-gop-proposes-so-called-let-women-die-bill-that-lets-hospitals-deny-life-saving-care/):

The House is scheduled to vote this week on a new bill that would allow federally-funded hospitals that oppose abortions to refuse to perform the procedure, even in cases where a woman would die without it.

Under current law, every hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid money is legally required to provide emergency care to any patient in need, regardless of his or her financial situation. If a hospital is unable to provide what the patient needs — including a life-saving abortion — it has to transfer the patient to a hospital that can.

Under H.R. 358, dubbed the “Protect Life Act” and sponsored by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), hospitals that don’t want to provide abortions could refuse to do so, even for a pregnant woman with a life-threatening complication that requires a doctor terminate her pregnancy. This provision would apply to the more than 600 Catholic hospitals governed by the Catholic Health Association, which are regulated by bishops and prohibited from performing abortions.

The bill also prohibits federal funds from going to health care plans that cover any abortion services, which might prompt insurers to stop covering abortions. That outcome would disproportionately impact poor women who can’t afford to pay for abortions out of pocket.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Tell me, why are all these kinds of bills that severely impact women always written by men?

[Mytical]

Those who speak loudest often are the only ones heard. Some guys are good at being heard, even if they are spouting nonsense. Anyhow a lot of things like that confuse me. Laws about how to raise children made by people who have never had a child, laws about marriage made by people who are not married..anything like that just does not make much sense. Saying 'hey you can't vote on this because' would be even worse though. So :shrug:

[Greenday]

Tell me, why are all these kinds of bills that severely impact women always written by men?

Because there are 362 men in Congress and only 76 women thus it is much more likely to be a guy writing it.

This bill will get shot down as it should, but absurd that people keep trying it. Can't wait for this older generation to be kicked out of power so the younger generation can bring the way to more rights for people.

[Panacea]

Because there are 362 men in Congress and only 76 women thus it is much more likely to be a guy writing it.

This bill will get shot down as it should, but absurd that people keep trying it. Can't wait for this older generation to be kicked out of power so the younger generation can bring the way to more rights for people.

It might pass in the House (which is Republican controlled) but will not be taken up in the Senate at all (Democrats control). It is a symbolic vote, this bill has no chance of passing. What it does is allow Republican Congressmen to establish their pro life street cred before the 2012 election.

[Greenday]

It might pass in the House (which is Republican controlled) but will not be taken up in the Senate at all (Democrats control). It is a symbolic vote, this bill has no chance of passing. What it does is allow Republican Congressmen to establish their pro life street cred before the 2012 election.

Which doesn't seem smart because as the younger generation takes over, less and less people are anti-choice.

[Andara Bledin]

Which doesn't seem smart because as the younger generation takes over, less and less people are anti-choice.
Unfortunately, that shift is almost glacial in it's lack of speed.

Too much of this fight is along religious lines, and young people are just as prone to being religiously-motivated assholes as their parents.

^-.-^

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Here in the Jesus lovin South there are MANY strongly pro life young people, I suspect that's why we have one of the highest teen preganancy rates in the nation.

[lordlundar]

Which doesn't seem smart because as the younger generation takes over, less and less people are anti-choice.

You'd think, but a lot of politicians have what equates to a death grip on their positions. The phrase "pry it from my cold dead hands" seems appropriate.

[guywithashovel]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/abortion_poll030122.html

Men and women are actually split fairly evenly in their support/opposition of abortion rights. There are plenty of anti-choice women out there, too (e.g. Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter, Christine O'Donnell, Phyllis Schlafly). In fact, if I remember correctly, Bachman has authored some anti-choice legislation of her own.

With this said, let's please try to avoid the typical feminist tactic of blaming all anti-choice measures on men.

[Panacea]

Which doesn't seem smart because as the younger generation takes over, less and less people are anti-choice.

There's some truth to that. The Millennials are, as a generation, more tolerant and accepting of differences in others than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers. There are exceptions of course, and some young people are just as hidebound as their elders.

But I think the pendulum is swinging the other way, and the abortion issue will become less and less important as the years go by.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/abortion_poll030122.html

Men and women are actually split fairly evenly in their support/opposition of abortion rights. There are plenty of anti-choice women out there, too (e.g. Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter, Christine O'Donnell, Phyllis Schlafly). In fact, if I remember correctly, Bachman has authored some anti-choice legislation of her own.

With this said, let's please try to avoid the typical feminist tactic of blaming all anti-choice measures on men.

Agreed. This has never been a male vs female issue, and some of the earliest feminists were anti-choice (though pro birth control).

In spite of what I said above, the majority of Americans now support abortion rights in the case of incest, rape, or to protect the health of the woman. Access to abortion on demand is about 50-50. Too close to call.

That's why the pro life folks are looking for other ways to restrict abortion rights. They haven't won their argument in spite of decades of demonstrations, grisly educational materials, court fights, and murders of doctors. Whittling away at abortion one procedure at a time, along with the emotional blackmail of forced ultrasounds is their current tactic, and they've made some gains though I don't think they'll win the war.

[Gravekeeper]

So what exactly was the point of this anyway?

You already can't use taxpayer money to fund abortion services and apparently the Bill itself has a loophole that lets you use federal subsidies anyway. So literally the only thing this Bill adds is the "Oh well, you can die on the floor of the waiting room" part by removing the requirement for hospitals to transfer a woman whose life is in danger from a pregnancy to a facility that can actually help her.

I can see why its called the "Let Women Die" bill. -.-

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

The House has now passed this bill, but it will most likely die a quick death in the Senate.

[XCashier]

Can't wait for this older generation to be kicked out of power so the younger generation can bring the way to more rights for people.
If these idiot right-wingers keep going the way they're going, it won't be long at all.

[Panacea]

So what exactly was the point of this anyway?

You already can't use taxpayer money to fund abortion services and apparently the Bill itself has a loophole that lets you use federal subsidies anyway. So literally the only thing this Bill adds is the "Oh well, you can die on the floor of the waiting room" part by removing the requirement for hospitals to transfer a woman whose life is in danger from a pregnancy to a facility that can actually help her.

I can see why its called the "Let Women Die" bill. -.-

And that's assuming the hospital would even transfer the woman, knowing the receiving hospital is going to "murder" the "unborn."

This is a horrible law. Fortunately, it won't pass.

[lordlundar]

And that's assuming the hospital would even transfer the woman, knowing the receiving hospital is going to "murder" the "unborn."

This is a horrible law. Fortunately, it won't pass.

I'm not so sure about that. Preventing this bill from passing requires a level of common sense that has eluded politicians for decades.

[Panacea]

I'm not so sure about that. Preventing this bill from passing requires a level of common sense that has eluded politicians for decades.

The Democratic leadership in the Senate won't bring nonsense like this to the floor for debate. They'll kill it long before then. This bill is a gesture to give Repubs something to campaign on, since they can't campaign on anything they actually accomplished.

[Jester]

Can't wait for this older generation to be kicked out of power so the younger generation can bring the way to more rights for people.

Amusingly, the "older generation" in question here is largely made up of the Baby Boomers, who happened to also be the hippie generation that was going to change everything.

Then they grew up and became money- and power-grubbing assholes just like their parents that they had been rebelling against.

You really think that cycle will change?

Too much of this fight is along religious lines, and young people are just as prone to being religiously-motivated assholes as their parents.

I couldn't have phrased it better myself.

There's some truth to that. The Millennials are, as a generation, more tolerant and accepting of differences in others than Gen Xers or Baby Boomers.

But I think the pendulum is swinging the other way, and the abortion issue will become less and less important as the years go by.

In some respects I would agree with you (such as gay marriage or medical marijuana), but not on this topic.

That's why the pro life folks are looking for other ways to restrict abortion rights. They haven't won their argument in spite of decades of demonstrations, grisly educational materials, court fights, and murders of doctors.

I am simultaneously amused and dismayed that so many in the pro life movement do not see the hypocrisy and contradiction here.

The House has now passed this bill, but it will most likely die a quick death in the Senate.

The fact that the House passed it at all is very alarming. Such a bill should not have gotten further than the proposal stage, if it is such a symbolic bill.

[kiwi]

I wish pro lifers would be honest they are pro-baby, anti-mother in this case (not in ALL cases).

Let's let the mother die so the baby can live

Or as I like to call it, let's ensure women know that society is in control of their bodies. Why don't they make women who have abortions for whatever reason where a giant A on them.... my my haven't we come such a long way.

[Boozy]

Or as I like to call it, let's ensure women know that society is in control of their bodies.

Women cease to become people in the eyes of society the moment they become pregnant. They become walking incubators and nothing more.

[Gravekeeper]

Women cease to become people in the eyes of society the moment they become pregnant.

I always found it particularly ironic how much noise the really rabid pro-lifers will make, but subsequently how little they seem to care about the kid after that 9 months are up. -.-

[Dreamstalker]

Exactly. I once posed that question to one of the pro-lifers picketing the local PP clinic; and it was pretty funny seeing them sputter...while their brain was rebooting they missed the 'chance' to lecture a few women.

[Rageaholic]

I always found it particularly ironic how much noise the really rabid pro-lifers will make, but subsequently how little they seem to care about the kid after that 9 months are up. -.-

Yup, the strictest, unhappiest families I've known were extremely prolife and religious. They raise all this fuss about about kids when their in the womb, but once their out, "tough love" rears it's ugly head.

[Andara Bledin]

The pro-life movement is anything but pro-life - they're pro-birth.

^-.-^

[Lachrymose]

Pro-birth. I like the word and will use it whenever I get the chance. :D

[Panacea]

Pro-birth. I like the word and will use it whenever I get the chance. :D

As will I. That's very good.

Funny how many of the pro-birth crowd are also pro-death penalty.

[Sleepwalker]

Ahhh, the forced birth crowd.