Stearns (R-FL) bill would authorize grants to crisis pregnancy centers for ultrasound equipment

[Shallah Kali]

http://floridaindependent.com/24741/stearns-bill-would-authorize-grants-to-crisis-pregnancy-centers-for-ultrasound-equipment


The Informed Choice Act http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.165.IH: , introduced by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, in January, would authorize grants “to nonprofit tax-exempt organizations for the purchase of ultrasound equipment to provide free examinations to pregnant women needing such services, and for other purposes.”

According to the current draft of the bill, which as of yet has no cosponsor, qualifying centers would receive 50 percent of the purchase price of the ultrasound machine involved or $20,000 — whichever is less. The bill appropriates $5 million for this initiative for fiscal year 2012 and “such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2013 through 2014.” #

snip


Recently, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg http://floridaindependent.com/24539/new-york-city-to-require-crisis-pregnancy-centers-to-disclose-info-no-such-luck-in-florida signed into law a bill that would require crisis pregnancy centers to disclose the services they provide and which services they don’t. Maryland passed a similar law last year but it was recently challenged http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland/2011/03/judge-halts-montgomery-pregnancy-center-law#ixzz1HG9NYr1Z in federal court. And last month in Arizona, http://www.americanindependent.com/171504/arizona-moves-closer-to-limiting-abortion-access-while-increasing-recognition-for-crisis-pregnancy-centers a resolution was put on the books to help prevent centers in that state from ever having to disclose whether or not they provide medical services.

snip

Stearns lives in Ocala, Fla., the home of Choose Life, Inc., http://www.choose-life.org/about-us.php a nonprofit that promotes the sale of “Choose Life” license plates which raise funds to support the adoption efforts of pregnancy centers, maternity homes and nonprofit adoption agencies. A bill http://images.floridaindependent.com/2011/03/SB-196-Proposed-Strike-all-Amendment.pdf (.pdf) that would distribute the funds generated from plate sales to organizations, including crisis pregnancy centers, “that assist women who are making an adoption plan for their children” is currently working its way through the Florida legislature http://floridaindependent.com/24097/amended-choose-life-bill-moves-to-senate-wednesday

Shotgun Adoption: Christian agencies lavish support services on pregnant women--if they give up their babies
http://www.thenation.com/article/shotgun-adoption


Six Pregnancy Tests in One Week
I visited Christian pregnancy centers that lure women in with false promises of medical care. Here's what they told me about abortions, breast cancer, shame, and death
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/a-six-pregnancy-tests-in-one-week/Content?oid=6782526


Will New York Make Crisis Pregnancy Centers Stop Deceiving?
http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/11/26/crisis-pregnancy-centers

Christian 'Pregnancy Crisis Centers' Masquerading as Health Clinics Tell Women Abortion Causes Cancer and Infertility -- And You're Helping Pay for Them
Under the dubious free speech protection, CPCs are going to disgusting lengths to scare women out of seeking abortions -- with the help of federal and state funding.
http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/146980/christian_%27pregnancy_crisis_centers%27_masquerading_as_health_clinics_tell_women_abortion_causes_cancer_and_infertility_--_and_you%27re_helping_pay_for_them


A New Fight Over Abortion Access:
From deceptive advertising to flat-out lies, crisis pregnancy centers prey on desperate young women looking for help. Joyce C. Tang on new laws across the country fighting back
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-01/crisis-pregnancy-centers-mislead-women-new-laws-fight-back

Hearing to Hold Christian-Powered Pregnancy Centers Accountable to Patients
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2011/01/21/monday-hearing-on-bill-to-hold-pro-life-pregancy-centers-accountable-to-clients

[kickysnana]

1. Practicing medicine without a license.

Who is going to test these to be sure they do not cause harm. Who is going to read them? I would think that the technicians would have fits about this.

[bluestateguy]

2. Correct me if I am wrong

Isn't an ultrasound available to any pregnant woman who wants one at her clinic or doctor's office?

[jmowreader]

4. It is, but that's not the point

The places the good representative is trying to get ultrasound equipment for are the ones that take women in crisis-pregnancy situations, run an ultrasound test on them, then go into this hard sell about how you'd be murdering the precious baby you see on the screen if you go through with aborting the anencephalic fetus you're carrying.

(Anencephaly means "without brain," and that's exactly what the condition is. And I'm sorry, dear Anti Abortion lurkers, but an anencephalic fetus has no chance whatsoever--it won't even grow up to become a teabagger.)

[Marnie]

3. Ultrasound is a medical procedure that can potentially

harm the fetus. It is a medical test that should only be interpreted by a physician or PS licensed in reading ultrasounds. And it, like any medical test should be done only with a physician's order.

How will information be controlled to comply with HIPAA?

What facilities will these pseudo clinics have to council and support women if there is an indication of abnormal fetal development? Who pays, insurance?