The Kansas House seems to feel that it's okay for doctors to withhold information from patients. Provided that patient is a pregnant woman.
"Among the most contested provisions of the bill is the section that would exempt a doctor from a medical malpractice suit if a woman claims the physician withheld information about potential birth defects to prevent her from having an abortion. In addition, a woman would not be able to sue if she suffers health damage from a pregnancy as a result of information withheld from her to prevent an abortion. A wrongful death suit could still be filed, however, if the mother died." (Article found here)
Translation: If your doctor sees something is wrong with your fetus or your pregnancy - they will be legally protected if they don't tell you - as long as you don't die. So basically, if they *think* you *might* abort - they can LIE to you. Lose your uterus? Can't sue. Have a child with birth defects? No recourse.
I can't begin to explain out absolutely LIVID I am about this. The rest of the bill is typical anti-choice bullshit - but this, this is a new low.
I worked in a pediatric neurology office for six and a half years - we saw children with seizures, genetic defects, hydrocephalus, extreme prematurity - that job has a lot to do with why I do not have children. Too much can go wrong. It got to the point where I was surprised and relieved when someone had a "normal" healthy baby. I watched families struggle with caring for a special needs child, husbands and wives torn apart over some perverse sense of blame. These situations should not be entered into lightly. (By the way, not all patients choose to abort when confronted with these types of situations, but this law would allow the doctor to make that assumption).
What these asshats are proposing would allow zealots with medical degrees to determine the course of their patient's lives. That is dangerous - and pretty frickin' unAmerican. Women have the right to know what is going on with their bodies - and with a fetus taking up residency there. Regardless of what a doctor may "think" his/her patient might do as a result of said information.
Here's an idea - if the idea of abortion is so abhorrent to you, if you are willing to DO HARM to a patient in violation of your hippocratic oath then I strongly suggest you find a new career. The personal morality of a doctor does not overrule that of a patient. Period.
"Among the most contested provisions of the bill is the section that would exempt a doctor from a medical malpractice suit if a woman claims the physician withheld information about potential birth defects to prevent her from having an abortion. In addition, a woman would not be able to sue if she suffers health damage from a pregnancy as a result of information withheld from her to prevent an abortion. A wrongful death suit could still be filed, however, if the mother died." (Article found here)
Translation: If your doctor sees something is wrong with your fetus or your pregnancy - they will be legally protected if they don't tell you - as long as you don't die. So basically, if they *think* you *might* abort - they can LIE to you. Lose your uterus? Can't sue. Have a child with birth defects? No recourse.
I can't begin to explain out absolutely LIVID I am about this. The rest of the bill is typical anti-choice bullshit - but this, this is a new low.
I worked in a pediatric neurology office for six and a half years - we saw children with seizures, genetic defects, hydrocephalus, extreme prematurity - that job has a lot to do with why I do not have children. Too much can go wrong. It got to the point where I was surprised and relieved when someone had a "normal" healthy baby. I watched families struggle with caring for a special needs child, husbands and wives torn apart over some perverse sense of blame. These situations should not be entered into lightly. (By the way, not all patients choose to abort when confronted with these types of situations, but this law would allow the doctor to make that assumption).
What these asshats are proposing would allow zealots with medical degrees to determine the course of their patient's lives. That is dangerous - and pretty frickin' unAmerican. Women have the right to know what is going on with their bodies - and with a fetus taking up residency there. Regardless of what a doctor may "think" his/her patient might do as a result of said information.
Here's an idea - if the idea of abortion is so abhorrent to you, if you are willing to DO HARM to a patient in violation of your hippocratic oath then I strongly suggest you find a new career. The personal morality of a doctor does not overrule that of a patient. Period.
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