Killing a baby is “essential” in Iowa. While state residents can’t get hip replacements, cataract surgery or other legitimate medical procedures, Iowans can still end the lives of their unborn children in lethal abortions.
That’s because state officials just reached an agreement that abortions are “essential” and don’t really fall under the order Governor Kim Reynolds gave to stop all non-essential medical procedures, including abortions.
As LifeNews previously reported, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has banned abortions in the state in order to preserve medical resources to help fight the coronavirus. She said anesthesiology machines used during abortion procedures might instead be converted to function as ventilators so they can function as legitimate health equipment in a time of need.
Reynolds, who is pro-life, signed a state public health emergency declaration Friday that stops all nonessential medical procures to conserve medical resources. On Sunday, she clarified that killing babies in abortions is considered non-essential. That “does include surgical abortion procedures,” Reynolds said during a Sunday press briefing.
After the ACLU sued on behalf of abortion companies, abortions are exempt:
The group had sought an emergency injunction to stop Reynolds’ directive from being implemented.
But at a Wednesday afternoon court hearing where Judge Andrew Chappell was set to review the injunction request, lawyers for the ACLU and the state of Iowa said they had reached an agreement just minutes before. Chappell ended the hearing — which was conducted via teleconference — to review the proposed agreement, and he quickly approved it.
He issued an order shortly the hearing, noting the ACLU had voluntarily withdrawn its motion for an emergency injunction.
The state, in responding to the ACLU’s lawsuit, said Reynolds’ emergency proclamation limiting elective surgeries only suspends “nonessential” surgical abortions that can be delayed without undue risk to the health of the patient.
The state acknowledged that physicians could consider Iowa’s current ban on all abortions that occur after 20 weeks of pregnancy when determining whether an abortion is “essential.” Delaying an abortion until after Reynolds’ proclamation has lifted could mean women fall beyond that 20-week mark and could no longer obtain the procedure legally.
Ultimately, women later in pregnancy can get abortions now and women earlier in pregnancy will get abortions later, or before the reach 20 weeks — almost to the point when a baby can survive on his or her own.
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Ohio has issued a similar order as well and, according to the Ohio State Medical Association, the order to top non-essential surgery means:
Only scheduled surgeries and procedures that meet one or more of the following criteria as it relates to the patient’s medical condition will be allowed:
There is a threat to the patient’s life if the surgery or procedure is not performed;
There is a threat of permanent dysfunction of an extremity or organ;
There is a risk of metastasis or progression of staging;
Risk of rapidly worsening to severe symptoms (time sensitivity).
If the surgery or procedure does not meet one of the above criteria, then it must be canceled, according to state health authorities.
Abortions do not fit any of those categories. They are elective procedures done to kill unborn babies. Recently, medical groups representing more than 30,000 doctors in America emphasized that abortions are not “essential” or “urgent,” and abortion facilities that continue to operate during the pandemic are being “medically irresponsible.”
Although the situation is fluid, here are the latest reports from LifeNews.com on the status of abortion and orders to stop non-essential medical services:
States Attempting to Protect Babies From Abortion
Texas: Abortion centers are temporarily closed after Governor Greg Abbott’s order. But Texas abortion businesses have sued the state to reopen. Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit as well to do abortions and ignore the order. A federal judge blocked the order and allowed abortion centers to keep killing babies but a federal appeals court reinstated the order.
Maryland: Abortion centers are included in the abortion order to stop non-essential procedures but they have been caught violating the order.
Louisiana: Abortion centers are included in the order to close and all three closed initially but at least one abortion center has been caught doing abortions.
Ohio: Abortion centers are included in the order to close but they are refusing to close. The health department is now investigating those violations. Meanwhile, a judge has blocked the state’s order banning abortions.
Mississippi: Abortion centers are included in the order and the state’s sole abortion business has closed.
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Gov Orders Abortion Businesses to Close, Killing Babies is Not “Essential” Medical Care. The Planned Parenthood abortion business has sued to keep doing abortions.
Kentucky: Attorney General Asks Health Department to Shut Down Abortion Clinics to Combat Coronavirus
Indiana: Governor Bans Killing Babies in Abortions to Save Medical Resources to Fight Coronavirus. At least one abortion business is refusing to comply.
Alabama: Alabama stopped abortions under its non-essential order until April 13th but a judge ruled the state can’t infringe on the so-called “right” to abortion.
West Virginia: Gov Bans Killing Babies in Abortions to Save Medical Resources to Fight Coronavirus.
States Not Protecting Babies From Abortion
Kansas: Abortions are allowed in Kansas but a county in Wichita voted to close the late-term abortion clinic there.
New York: New York has issued an order to stop non-essential health services but is not applying it to abortion centers. New York Attorney General: Coronavirus Crisis is No Reason to Stop Killing Babies in Abortions. NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio has threatened to permanently close churches while letting abortion centers stay open.
Minnesota: Minnesota Issues Shelter at Home Order But People Can Still Go Kill Their Babies in Abortions
New Mexico: New Mexico Shuts Down Non-Essential Health Care, But Allows Abortion Clinics to Keep Killing Babies
New Jersey: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.
Michigan: Governor Whitmer has stopped non-essential medical surgeries but allowed abortion clinics to keep killing babies.
North Carolina: Pro-life groups have called on the governor to stop abortions during the coronavirus crisis.
Washington: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.
California: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded. But 11 Planned Parenthood abortion centers have voluntarily closed.
Pennsylvania: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.
Maine: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.
Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Shuts Down Pregnancy Center Over Coronavirus, Lets Abortion Clinics Stay Open
Massachusetts: Shut down non-essential health care but abortion centers are excluded.
International
Canada has banned every other non-essential medical procedure except abortion.
