State health officials are implementing parts of a controversial abortion law even as one section is being challenged in court.
The Department of Health Services this past week erected a web site designed to give those considering an abortion a list of things that can go wrong. The site, mandated by lawmakers and the governor earlier this year, also has an ever-developing list of services available to women who decide to keep their babies, from adoption services to diaper banks.
And it has medically accurate illustrations of what a fetus looks like at two-week intervals.
The mandate is part of the same measure which bans abortions at the 20th week of pregnancy. A federal appeals court has blocked the state from enforcing that provision while it considers its legality.
Rep. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, the sponsor of the legislation, said it is designed to ensure that women truly give "informed consent'' before agreeing to terminate a pregnancy. She said having it available on the World Wide Web ensures that women, on their own, can seek out the information they need.
But Yee, a staunch foe of all abortions, acknowledged she believes that the site will convince some women considering an abortion not to go through with it.
State Health Director Will Humble told Capitol Media Services the motives of Yee and the rest of the Legislature are irrelevant to what his agency has done.
"It's not for me to decide what we're going to do regarding information about abortion procedures,'' he said. "My job is to carry out the laws that lawmakers in Arizona have passed.''
Humble said it's no different than being directed by voters, as the ultimate lawmakers, to set up a medical marijuana program . He said if lawmakers direct him to provide information on complications of abortions, that's what he has to do.
So the web site lists various things that can go wrong from the procedure, ranging from infection and hemorrhage to sterility and death.
But Humble stressed that does not mean listing everything that is only possible. And the fact that other states' web sites make certain claims does not obligate him to do the same.
For example, he said, a similar web site set up by the state of Texas links having an abortion to an increased risk of breast cancer.
"We looked for sources top document in fact whether there is evidence to support that,'' Humble said. "We couldn't find that evidence.''
Sheila Sjolander, the agency's chief of the Bureau of Women's and Children's Health, said that medical studies found the claim "inconclusive.''
"So that's not on our web site,'' Humble said.
Yee said she had not yet seen the web site her legislation mandated. But she said she is convinced that it will make a difference.
She said some of that belief comes from nurses who testified during hearings about the issue in the last two years.
"Young women who came to their clinics did not have information when they came, often times with their boyfriends,'' she said. One big issue, Yee said, was the question of whether women were feeling coerced to terminate their pregnancy.
"It is against the law,'' Yee said. "And we've had that on the books for many years.''
But she said there was no single place where a woman could learn that.
Then there are those medical drawings.
Here, too, existing law provided a woman with the right to view the ultrasound image of the fetus. And Yee said that some women -- and, in some cases, the fathers of the unborn child -- decided at that point against proceeding.
She said, though, that the medical drawings, which are in full color and much more detailed than any ultrasound, may give some prospective parents additional reasons to reconsider their initial decision to terminate the pregnancy.
Nothing in the law requires a woman to actually read any of the information or view the drawings.
But it does say anyone seeking an abortion must be given the opportunity to review all the information. And it says a woman also can get a printed version of the materials, free of charge, if she wants.
Humble said, though, that his agency is not just presenting one side of the story.
The web site says that pregnancy and birth "is usually a safe, natural process.'' But it does warn that "complications can occur.''
Most common, according to the department, are high blood pressure, complicated delivery, premature labor and ectopic pregnancy, where the fetus is actually outside the womb.
But nothing on the site details the numeric risks of either abortion or carrying a child to term.
Humble also sought to avoid the minefield of claims, many of these anecdotal, about whether terminating a pregnancy leads to mental health problems.
"Women may have both positive and negative feelings after having an abortion,'' the web site says, saying some report any feelings going away quickly while others say they are longer lasting.
"These feelings may include guilt, sadness, or emptiness,'' the state's site says.
"Some women feel relief that the procedure is over,'' it continues. "Other women may feel anger at having to make the choice.''
Whatever the feelings, the site says counseling or support is important both before and after a procedure.
downtownresident posted at 6:31 am on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
Just another waste of money. All you prudes out there should be ashamed forcing this propaganda on women.
I see all the backwards, ignorant whackos are forcing their will on poor women who just need some help.
RussellCrawford posted at 7:15 am on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
Abortion is mediated by 6 scientific laws. Those laws show that abortion in fact saves life and pro life ideas cause death. In fact a State has a choice, they may save born babies, children and adults or they may let the born die in an effort to save fetuses that they cannot prove are alive or human. |
The website of the State in fact causes the death of citizens. The site should follow the rules of triage and the laws that govern abortion. http://www.naturalabortionlaws.com http://www.facebook.com/nautralabortionlaw
magenta posted at 8:31 am on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
Ridiculous. For every one website like this there are 100 others that explain abortion and get women the help and information they need. This is idiotic. Great use of taxpayer money, all you tea partiers in the state government.
DataMan posted at 8:57 am on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
We need a website to alert people of the dangers of the far right Christian Taliban groups like CAP and the uneducated twits they elect!
DrJCA1 posted at 11:20 am on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
The saddest thing in this abortion debate is the simple fact that so many avid anti-abortionists (for any reason) are totally ignorant of actual data and facts on the subject they yell and scream about.
After spending 40 years in nursing, medicine, and community health I can give you some insights into this area of thought.
First of all, the fact of the matter is that if a woman wants an abortion, she'll get one.
In line with that, any procedure done with a professional provider in a sterile setting is preferable to one done in a lmuch less desirable place with who-knows-who is performing the procedure.
Secondly, I have no problem with anyone offering help to a pregnant female, offering information, or providing alternatives to an abortion. I do have a huge problem with the holier-than--thou folks trying to force their beliefs on others, and that's not just in the abortion discussion. The rights to your beiiefs end at my mind and body.
Third, very few females get an abortion because it's inconvenient or annoying to have a baby. Most are deeply in trouble, either emotionally, economically, socially, or any combination of those factors. Most of the women I counseled over the years opted for adoption and I did not have to shower them with "blood and guts" trash to get my point across. I simply hooked them up with the proper agency to facilitate a good adoption family.
Fourth. I really get ticked off when the religious right in this country blasts the Islamic nutjiobs for harming Christians, but they see no harm in forcing their beleifs on to those who differ from them. Hypocracy at it's finest.
Finally, for those of you too ignorant to understand the concept of freedom, let me provide one example. When you want to force others to follow your beliefs, even for a "noble" cause, it is no different than any other dictator, despot, extremist murdering group, or any other brerach of sensibility. You realize that the crusades were done for a "holy" cause, as were the various inquisitions, witch hunts, and lynchings of people for no reason other than to protect one group's "stuff".
Ateam1 posted at 11:58 am on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
Just amazing at how many have'nt figured out what causes this problem!!! Did it again and sun of a gun,happened again.WOW!
Leon Ceniceros posted at 12:06 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
REMEMBER WHEN AN UN-MARRIED WOMAN WHO BECAME PREGNANT BROUGHT SHAME ON HERSELF AND HER FAMILY JUST BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO HAVE .........."UNPROTECTED SEX".
WHAT DOES A CONDOM COST THESE DAYS (USED TO BE A QUARTER)....A DOLLAR AT THE MOST.
WOMEN WHO BECOME PREGNANT "VOLUNTARILY" = ARE NOT "VICTIMS".
THEY ARE NOT TO BE "FELT SORRY FOR". THESE "UN-WANTED PREGNANCIES" DID NOT COME ABOUT ....."MIRACULOUSLY" ....BUT BY A CONSCIOUS DECISION BY THE WOMAN NOT TO "PROTECT" HERSELF BY EITHER HER ACTIONS OR THE MAN'S (NO "SAME-SEX" SITUATION HERE, FOLKS) ACTIONS.
THE 1,300,000...."BABY KILLINGS" IN AMERICA ARE 90+% DUE TO THE ......"VOLUTARY DECISION ON THE WOMAN'S PART TO HAVE UN-PROTECTED SEX" ........PERIOD.
Deddzone posted at 1:13 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
Do you think the GOP will some day figure out why more women voted for the other guy? I wonder if they will get that message soon--before 2016, 2020??
In the mean time, the rightwing continues it's crusade to appear nuts. They've convinced themselves it's working.
Abortion is legal. End of story..
samkat posted at 3:45 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
Leon: As usual, you are so far out there, you must be breathing space dust. Spare us your catholic ideology since not everyone is of your faith. You are also against sex education in school and free or low cost birth control which goes a lot further than a condom. I would much rather see a small amount of my tax dollars pay for contraceptive devices for young women than I would to support the unintended results for 18 plus years.
I just read an article in the republic this morning stating that the number of unwanted children in CPS custody is now up to 14,800. Now, I have to ask why folks like you are not backing up their convictions by becoming foster parents or adopting.
PS: I have to agree with the other posters who have criticized you. Turn of the caps key. It is annoying.
samkat posted at 3:46 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
By the way Leon, are you going to tell us you never had sex before marriage?
aaarrrggghhh posted at 8:44 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
Leon puts too much "belief" in The Scarlet Letter. I personally object to my tax dollars being spent forcing some people's religious beliefs down other people's throats.
downtownresident posted at 11:42 pm on Sun, Nov 25, 2012.
One good look, and listen, to Will Humble and his BS would be enough to make me practice no sex, if I thought it would result in another child like him.
[sad]
Scaredwhtguy posted at 4:51 am on Mon, Nov 26, 2012.
These RT Wing sanctimonious cretins can't wait to take us back to the 18th century.
chuckles3 posted at 11:15 am on Mon, Nov 26, 2012.
Love the hate here. Keep killing the minority children-you know, the same minorities you hypocrites fool into thinking you're helping them with economic slavery and dependence. Oh, and by killing their babies and keeping their population down.
FenderBass posted at 4:09 pm on Mon, Nov 26, 2012.
I'm not sure if anyone actually looked at the web site before entering their rants, but it is:
http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/owch/informed-consent/right-to-know/index.htm
It took a fairly persistent amount of searching just to find it, so before you get ready to storm the capitol with pitch forks and torches, you may want to consider that its unlikely any of intended audience will ever actually say it. It's a cyber-billboard in the middle of the desert.
Ateam1 posted at 7:06 pm on Mon, Nov 26, 2012.
Don't worry! Obama's printing press has not ran out of paper! Keep it it going,plenty of liberals here to pay the taxes for us. I think it's time to retire.