“Women Know Nothing” bill a.k.a. “Women are idiots” bill a.k.a. “The Woman’s Right to Know”

http://www.gocomics.com/tomtoles/2011/03/27/

Such is the case with HB854, the so-called “Woman’s Right to Know” bill which received its first hearing in the House Judiciary B committee Wednesday morning.

One of our legislative allies refers to this bill as the “Women are Idiots” or “Women Know Nothing” bill. This is far more accurate.

Let’s get one thing straight first and foremost– Informed consent is already part of ethical medical practice. Furthermore, it is already required by state law (G.S. 90-21.13). Planned Parenthood’s medical professionals give informed consent to every single patient who walks through our doors not just because it’s required by law but because it is part of delivering compassionate, non-judgmental, non-coercive care.

So if it’s just masquerading as informed consent what is HB854 really? Proponents in yesterday’s committee hearing stated that HB854 is “empowering” to women. This not only would seem to be untrue, it is also just plain insulting for men to suggest that women won’t know the difference between being empowered and being talked down to. Here are the basics of what this law would entail and maybe someone else can tell me where the empowerment comes in.

HB 854 requires:

1) Two pages of mandated counseling written by politicians, not doctors. These politicians have no expertise in obstetrics-gynecology.

2) A 24-hour mandatory delay for women seeking abortion care. Sixty percent of women who decide to have an abortion are already mothers and make the incredibly difficult decision out of concern for their families and considering current responsibilities and obligations. Women make this decision with difficulty and a great deal of thought. This bill implies that women choose abortion on a whim. Further, this waiting period introduces a huge barrier for women who are poor and/or live in rural areas far from the closest provider.

3) Physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide consultations for any woman who calls to schedule an abortion even if the provider has never met the woman or confirmed that she is pregnant. Forcing medical professionals to give medical advice over the phone is bad medical practice plain and simple. Furthermore, it opens the door for anti-choice activists to call clinics with the sole purpose of wasting doctors’ time.

4) North Carolina to produce printed materials, which prominently display: “The life of each human being begins at conception. Abortion will terminate the life of a separate, unique living human being.” This one pretty much speaks for itself. If there every were anything outside the government’s purview I’m pretty sure it would be attempting to answer the age old philosophical question of when life begins.

5) Notarization of parental consent for minors whose parents do not or cannot accompany their daughter to have an abortion. This would deny families in crisis their right to privacy in making confidential health decisions. This is especially true for families who live in smaller communities where public notaries are often a neighbor or a merchant with whom the family regularly does business. There is no way to guarantee confidentiality.

6) The physician or qualified technician to perform an ultrasound 4 hours before the abortion, forcing the woman to wait additional time. Now she’s effectively looking at a 28 hour waiting period. In addition, ultrasounds are already required by state regulation. What is not currently required but is included in HB854 is that the woman be forced to listen to the technician describe fetal stages of development as it relates to her ultrasound. Those who support the bill say this is no big deal because the woman is permitted to “avert her eyes”. Oh wait, is this what they meant by “empowerment”?

7) A page and a half of newly created reporting requirements which must be completed by the physician, including documentation of the consultations provided to women who call but never become a patient. It is unclear who will monitor this reporting and if these new reporting requirements will breach patient confidentiality.

If you’re getting the sense that it’s an omnibus attack on reproductive health and a wish-list of restrictions and barriers for any anti-choice politician, you’re right on. Scary times indeed.

The good news? You can help us in this fight! Make a secure donation to your local Planned Parenthood to help us beat back the anti-choice attacks and look for much more on this bill as it makes its way through committee.

You can “follow” our play-by-play from inside the Legislative Building at www.twitter.com/ppcnc

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