Posted on Jan 11, 2023
Virginia Republicans Promised a “Reasonable” Abortion Law. They Just Proposed an Extreme Ban.
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On Wednesday, Virginia Republicans introduced a bill to criminalize abortion in the commonwealth after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The party is framing the ban as a moderate compromise: GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised it as a “bipartisan consensus,” while the Senate Republican caucus described it as “practical, sensible, and reasonable.”
But these descriptions do not align with the actual text of the law. In addition to outlawing abortion long before viability, the proposal shares several features with the extreme abortion bans adopted by states like Louisiana and Texas. It contains extremely limited exceptions while exposing doctors to criminal liability for performing emergency abortions. In short, the ban would ensure that reproductive health care in Virginia is dictated by criminal law rather than patients and their physicians.
The measure is unlikely to pass immediately—the day before its introduction, a Democrat won a close race that expanded his party’s control of the state senate. But it shows voters exactly how Republicans plan to govern, should they seize control of the legislature in next year’s elections.
But these descriptions do not align with the actual text of the law. In addition to outlawing abortion long before viability, the proposal shares several features with the extreme abortion bans adopted by states like Louisiana and Texas. It contains extremely limited exceptions while exposing doctors to criminal liability for performing emergency abortions. In short, the ban would ensure that reproductive health care in Virginia is dictated by criminal law rather than patients and their physicians.
The measure is unlikely to pass immediately—the day before its introduction, a Democrat won a close race that expanded his party’s control of the state senate. But it shows voters exactly how Republicans plan to govern, should they seize control of the legislature in next year’s elections.
Virginia Republicans Promised a “Reasonable” Abortion Law. They Just Proposed an Extreme Ban.
Posted from slate.com
Republicans
Abortion
Medical
Health
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Currently, Virginia law allows doctors to exercise their “good faith clinical judgment” when providing minors with emergency abortions, even when their parents do not or cannot consent. That standard provides a shield against prosecution, protecting doctors as long as they acted in “good faith” in line with appropriate standards of care. H.B. 2278 would revoke that standard. It would inject uncertainty into pregnant minors’ medical emergencies, compelling doctors to weigh their own medical judgment against the possibility of criminal charges.
The night before Republicans introduced their new abortion ban, Virginia voters effectively ensured that it will never pass. On Tuesday, Democrats won a special election that flipped a seat in the state senate, giving them a 22–18 majority. The Democratic candidate, Aaron Rouse, campaigned on protecting abortion rights, and his victory all but guarantees that H.B. 2278 will die in the state legislature. Youngkin and his legislative allies appear eager to push the ban anyway. They have shown the commonwealth what maternity care would look like if the GOP had complete control of the government. Voters will decide whether to make their vision a reality."...
..."Currently, Virginia law allows doctors to exercise their “good faith clinical judgment” when providing minors with emergency abortions, even when their parents do not or cannot consent. That standard provides a shield against prosecution, protecting doctors as long as they acted in “good faith” in line with appropriate standards of care. H.B. 2278 would revoke that standard. It would inject uncertainty into pregnant minors’ medical emergencies, compelling doctors to weigh their own medical judgment against the possibility of criminal charges.
The night before Republicans introduced their new abortion ban, Virginia voters effectively ensured that it will never pass. On Tuesday, Democrats won a special election that flipped a seat in the state senate, giving them a 22–18 majority. The Democratic candidate, Aaron Rouse, campaigned on protecting abortion rights, and his victory all but guarantees that H.B. 2278 will die in the state legislature. Youngkin and his legislative allies appear eager to push the ban anyway. They have shown the commonwealth what maternity care would look like if the GOP had complete control of the government. Voters will decide whether to make their vision a reality."...
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Maj Robert Thornton 7 h
I don’t agree with abortion as a birth control method, but, I understand there has to be some compromise. 15-20 weeks should be the limit, IMHO.
I can't respond on that post - but no one is using abortion as birth control. Birth control PREVENTS pregnancy. An abortion occurs when there's already a pregnancy. Abortion is healthcare. Period. It doesn't matter to you or anyone else why someone gets an abortion. At all.
I don’t agree with abortion as a birth control method, but, I understand there has to be some compromise. 15-20 weeks should be the limit, IMHO.
I can't respond on that post - but no one is using abortion as birth control. Birth control PREVENTS pregnancy. An abortion occurs when there's already a pregnancy. Abortion is healthcare. Period. It doesn't matter to you or anyone else why someone gets an abortion. At all.
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There's no such thing as a "reasonable" abortion law. Abortion is healthcare and shouldn't be legislated. Especially not by politicians who don't even base the legislation in accurate medical science.
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