California Should Not Allow Midwives, Non-Doctors to Do Abortions

Opinion   |   Karen England   |   Mar 5, 2012   |   8:31PM   |   Sacramento, CA

Nearly 1.2 million abortions are performed every year in America. That means that every year, 1.2 million lives are ended before they really even start.

But that shocking murder rate isn’t enough for the abortion industry. In fact, they want to make it even easier (and more unsafe) for women to end their pregnancy. One California legislator has introduced legislation that will change current law and allow non-physicians to perform abortions.

Current state law provides some limited protections for women seeking abortions by requiring that a doctor or surgeon perform the abortion. Introduced February 24th by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego), SB 1501, or the “Safe Access to Early Term Reproductive Health Act” would amend the law to allow nurse midwives, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to also perform surgical abortions. Unsurprisingly, SB 1501 is sponsored by Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Rights Action League, and the ACLU.

Assemblywoman Linda Halderman (R-Fresno) is an expert on the topic and recently appeared on the Ray Appleton radio show to discuss the dangers of SB 1501, dubbing it a “very clear patient safety issue.”

According to Assemblywoman Halderman, SB 1501 is actually based on a state government pilot program called “Increasing Access to Early Pregnancy Care” which allowed non-doctors to perform surgical abortions. Medical workers with no or limited surgical experience were given just 6-7 days of training before they were allowed to perform surgical abortions.

They were trained for just one week before performing a medical procedure that has a 3-6% complication rate for patients.

Complications include uterine perforation, hemorrhaging, failed or incomplete abortion, and cervical injury.

This pilot program was targeted at women in poor minority communities. Sadly, women in these communities often turn to abortion. A shocking 42% of black children are aborted—it’s the number one cause of ending pregnancy in the black community.

SB 1501 is being sold as a means of “expanding access” for women. But what it’s really doing is jeopardizing lives. Women seeking abortions are often in a vulnerable position and need help—not a quick, dangerous excuse to terminate their pregnancy. If expanding access to healthcare for women is the goal, the solution for lack of access shouldn’t be lowering standards for their care.

When the campaign to legalize abortion began over 40 years ago, one of the main arguments in favor of it was to end the horrific “back alley” abortions that endangered the lives of women. Women were portrayed as the victims of unprofessional abortionists with no medical training, placing their life in danger for simply trying to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. How ironic and sad that when it comes right down to it, the abortion industry could care less about the safety of women—as long as it can increase the number of abortions. SB 1501 unmasks the true motives of the abortion industry and it isn’t providing “access” or “care” for women.

Contact your state legislators and urge them to oppose SB 1501. Call Senator Kehoe and ask her to top jeopardizing the health of vulnerable California women.

Text of SB 1501

Contact Senator Christine Kehoe

State Capitol, Room 5050
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4039
Fax: (916) 327-2188

[email protected]

Contact your State Senator or State Assemblymember

LifeNews Note:  Karen England is the president of the Capital Resource Institute, a pro-life, pro-family organization.