Extreme Anti-Choice Bill Gives Hospitals Permission to Let Women Die

by Roxann MtJoy · 2011-02-17 06:00:00 UTC
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Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) has once again launched an attack on women's reproductive choice. This time it comes in the form of the Protect Life Act. But one thing that is crystal clear is that Pitts has little interest in protecting the lives of pregnant women.

The new Pitts bill is scary and dangerous on a number of levels. First, the bill would restrict insurance coverage of abortion care for millions of American women. Millions. Even if women use their personal, private money in the new state health exchanges, this bill would make it nearly impossible for them to get insurance coverage for abortion.

Secondly, Pitt wants to allow private hospitals to be able to refuse to perform emergency abortions to women in cases where it would actually save the woman's life. Moreover, the hospital wouldn't even be required to facilitate a transfer to a hospital that was willing to perform the life-saving procedure. Hospital staff could literally do nothing while the woman dies. Even non-medical staff such as receptionists and insurance claims adjusters would now have the right to interfere. It is an unprecedented exception to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), which guarantees necessary medical treatment to all who seek it.

The third hit to reproductive choice comes in the form of an assault on the Affordable Care Act, which sets minimum standards for health coverage. If the Pitts bill is successful, insurance companies would then be free to refuse to offer coverage for a wide range of basic health care services for women, including contraceptives, HIV screening and counseling, pap smears for single women, cervical cancer screening, care related to sexually-transmitted diseases, and more. The Pitts bill also bans any organization bound by the Affordable Care Act from ensuring access to abortion-related services, including providing simple information.

The Protect Life Act is over-reaching, discriminatory, and dangerous. There are already protections against federal funds being used for abortion care. Conscience clauses abound. There is no need for even more legislation to further restrict a women's access to safe, affordable reproductive care. Tell Congress to say No on H.R. 358 by signing this petition from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Women and families are entitled to better than what Pitts will give them.

Photo credit: David Jackmanson

Roxann MtJoy is a freelance writer who previously worked as a case manager at a domestic violence shelter. She is currently attending graduate school for theater in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

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