Massachusetts Pro-Life Group Names Informed Consent Bill for Abortion Victim
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 11, 2008
Boston, MA (LifeNews.com) — A Massachusetts pro-life group wants the state legislature to approve a bill giving women information on abortion’s risks and complications. The request follows the death of 22-year-old Laura Smith, who died after a Hyannis abortion practitioner botched a legal abortion and took her life.
Rapin Osathanondh has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges in connection with her death.
Massachusetts Citizens for Life has been pressing for a Woman’s Right to Know bill that would make sure abortion practitioners counsel women about the kinds of medical risks associated with an abortion — like those that led to Smith’s death.
Responding to a request from Smith’s mother Eileen, MCFL told LifeNews.com it has renamed the legislation "Laura’s Law" in her honor.
Eileen Smith said that, following her daughter’s death, she is now a strong supporter of informed consent laws regarding abortion.
"First and foremost it would be the honor of having Laura remembered in such a noble cause," Smith told MCFL in a letter to the group.
"I think Laura’s death epitomizes the need for such a law. I truly believe that Laura would be with us today had this bill been passed prior to September 2007," she added.
Marie Sturgis, the group’s executive director, told LifeNews.com the board of directors voted unanimously to approve the change
"Although the risks of the abortion procedure are downplayed by the abortion industry, there are many complications – cervical injury, perforated uterus, infertility, subsequent ectopic pregnancy, placenta previa, premature delivery and miscarriage," she said.
"Repeat abortions and those performed after 12 weeks are especially risky," Sturgis added.
"The bill gives a woman considering abortion the right to know the medical risks of abortion, its alternatives, and nonjudgmental, scientifically accurate medical facts about the development of her unborn child before making this permanent and life-affecting decision," Sturgis added.
ACTION: Contact your members of the Massachusetts legislature and urge strong support for the Right to Know bill — now named Laura’s Law.
Related web sites:
Massachusetts Citizens For Life – https://www.masscitizensforlife.org
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