Texas GOP wants to let doctors lie to women about pregnancies to trick them out of having abortions

[DonViejo]

Source: RawStory


ERIN CORBETT
03 MAR 2017 AT 12:59 ET

The Texas GOP introduced yet another anti-abortion bill that would give doctors the right to lie to their patients about their pregnancies. Texas Senate Bill 25, also known as the “wrongful births bill” has made its way to the Texas Senate floor, and would prevent lawsuits against doctors if a baby is born with a disability.

In reality, the bill allows doctors to withhold information about the risk of a disability from the parents, particularly in cases when the doctor thinks the individual might decide to have an abortion if provided with the information.

As of Feb. 1, 2017, the Guttmacher Institute reports 434 sexual and reproductive health provisions that have been introduced at the state-level. Four anti-abortion bills have been enacted. In Texas specifically, at least 6 abortion restrictions were in effect as of Jan. 1, including a requirement to receive and view an ultrasound before being allowed an abortion.

Margaret Johnson of the Texas League of Women Voters commented on the Texas bill. “This bill places a (sic) unreasonable restriction on the constitutional right of a woman to make an informed decision about whether or not to have an abortion,” Johnson said while testifying in opposition to the bill. “SB 25 is a not-so-subtle way to give medical personnel the opportunity to impose religious beliefs on women.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/03/texas-gop-wants-to-let-doctors-lie-to-women-about-pregnancies-to-trick-them-out-of-having-abortions/

[lark]

1. This is unconstitutional and would not stand.

Fuck off TX R's.

[luvMIdog]

2. GET OUT OF OUR UTERUS GOP

[packman]

3. Oh, those Texas Repukes - just a bunch of harmless guys

What's a lie or two - meaningless to them

[louis-t]

4. Why does "family values", so-called Christian

conservative agenda involve so many lies?

[MissMillie]

5. malpratice anyone? n/t

.

[northoftheborder]

6. Surely this will not pass, or will be held unconstitutional, or physicians will decide it is against

...their code of ethics. However if it does, a woman would be in her rights to ask her physician what his religious beliefs were about women's rights.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Maybe their next bright idea is to decline treatment for women past child-bearing years.

Maybe make divorce automatic once a woman is discovered to be past child-bearing, so the husband can get busy, with their blessings, making more little white "Christian" GOP cretins.

The sky's the limit, now, apparently.

[onenote]

8. The proposed bill isn't limited to doctors

It provides that no one can bring a civil action against any third person for damages based on a claim that but for that third person's act or omission, an abortion would have taken place.

Thus, for example, if someone kidnaps a woman and holds her hostage so that she cannot obtain an abortion and only releases her after she's given birth, that person could be tried and punished for kidnapping, but the woman could not sue the perpetrator for damages arising from his acts that prevented her from getting an abortion.

Here's the text:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to eliminating the wrongful birth cause of action.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 4, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 71A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 71A. PROHIBITED CAUSES OF ACTION
Sec. 71A.001. WRONGFUL BIRTH. A cause of action may not
arise, and damages may not be awarded, on behalf of any person,
based on the claim that but for the act or omission of another, a
person would not have been permitted to have been born alive but
would have been aborted.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
this Act. A cause of action that accrues before the effective date
of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the cause of action
immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

[solara]

9. It really seems as if

the Vichy GOP believes that lies are definitely the only way to go. It is clear they use lies much more often than the truth. How is that working out for them, I wonder.

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[Skittles]

10. where is the AMA on this

come on

[Solly Mack]

11. I keep typing and deleting, typing and deleting, typing and deleting

because I know if I post what I am thinking in my rage about what this bill is proposing, I would scare the shit out some people. And it is a rage that never lessens in regard to all things anti-woman/anti-choice.

For some people, to know that women share the same intense anger and have the same thoughts (which some might find a wee bit vengeful - but most women would see as justice), it can be unsettling.

So I need to remove myself from this thread now. But I did want to let it be known that I did read the article. To let other women know I stand with them.

[smirkymonkey]

12. So then, I think that if a doctor withholds information about a disabled fetus, then the

doctor should be legally liable for the cost of raising and caring for that child for the rest of it's natural life. It's only fair.

[Paladin]

13. Want to talk "wrongful birth" in Texas? How about odious Lt. Governor Dan Patrick?

And no, scumbag Patrick wasn't actually born in Texas---but he's inflicted himself on my poor state for way too long; call it "wrongful existence" in his case. I have no doubt his filthy prints are all over this ludicrous, hurtful bill.

[jrandom421]

14. This will go over well

Until the first malpractice lawsuit, and a doctor tries using this as part of his defense. He'll get convicted so quickly and the plaintiff will be awarded multimillion dollars in damages, especially if she includes the Texas legislator as a party to the suit.

[bronxiteforever]

15. Someone needs to put Cruz and Cornyun on record and ask if they support the bill

Too often these clowns have state legs that propose outrageous unpopular bills and they get away with not being forced to take a stand on what their state counterparts propose. They should be asked if they would support a federal proposal like it.

Make them own their evil.

[NoMoreRepugs]

16. if only I could have my toilet drain in Texas

[riversedge]

17. So, IF a Dr. knowingly LIES by omission, then he can not be sued. OMG! What the hell is the

matter with these lawmakers!! And where is the professional organizations on this? Damn, this is stupid! And horrible!

[cstanleytech]

18. This might protect the doctor from a civil suit but it wont protect them from losing their

license to practice medicine in the state.

[littlemissmartypants]

19. Believe it or not

There are real doctor dementeds that could give a flying flip about that Do No Harm thingy.

Bodily Autonomy For All Genders and the ERA ratified in my lifetime, please!!

Thanks for this DonViejo. ♡