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Why Are Michigan Politicians Adopting Ireland鈥檚 Deadly Abortion Policy?

Jennifer Dalven,
Director, Reproductive Freedom Project,
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December 10, 2012

By now, most of us have read (and wept over) the tragic story of -- the woman an Irish hospital let die rather than provide the abortion that she needed to save her life. News of her death has generated outrage across the globe and a call from to the Irish government to ensure that women are protected.

But as we explained in an earlier post, this isn鈥檛 just an issue in Ireland. This is a real issue right here at home too. As in Ireland, refuse to let their doctors provide an abortion for a woman facing a medical emergency even if, as in Savita鈥檚 case, there is no chance that the baby will survive.

And now, for reasons I can鈥檛 begin to understand, politicians in Michigan are telling hospitals it is okay if they treat a pregnant woman exactly like the Irish hospital treated Savita. Under a bill passed on Thursday by the Michigan Senate (while the public was locked out of the Capitol, but that is another story), a hospital that refuses on religious grounds to provide appropriate care to a pregnant woman facing an emergency will get a free pass from the state. Yes, you heard that right: The hospital can鈥檛 lose its license. It won鈥檛 be at a risk of a fine. It won鈥檛 even have to face a lawsuit from the woman鈥檚 grieving family. Nope, the hospital can let a pregnant woman die and get off scot free.

Look, we may not all agree about abortion, but when a pregnant woman is taken to a hospital in an emergency she shouldn鈥檛 have to worry that the hospital will withhold the care she needs to protect her health. A pregnant woman who enters an emergency room should be guaranteed that she will get the care she needs if something goes terribly wrong. This should go without saying, but apparently some Michigan politicians need reminding: Saving a woman鈥檚 life must be every hospital鈥檚 first priority.

This bill was always dangerous and wrongheaded. But to pass it in the wake of Savita鈥檚 death is unspeakable. Let the Governor know how you feel about this bill and all measures that threaten women鈥檚 health. For the sake of all the women in your life who may some day be pregnant, let him know what you think of elected officials who play politics with women鈥檚 health. Unfortunately, speaking out now won鈥檛 bring Savita back or lessen her family鈥檚 grief. But it just might help prevent another tragedy like that from happening right here in the United States. That seems like the least we can do.

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