For the next 7 weeks, the IFRL blog will release a fact sheet each week exposing the dangers of the Illinois Reproductive Health Act which was signed into law last summer.
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March 25, 2020
Texas Governor Prohibits Medically Unnecessary Procedures, Including Abortions, to Save Resources During COVID-19 Pandemic
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| Texas Governor Greg Abbott |
From the governor's press release:
"Under this order, the Governor directed all licensed health care professionals and facilities to postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately, medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition or to preserve the life of a patient who without immediate performance of the surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death, as determined by the patient’s physician."In response statements from abortion clinics claiming that their elective abortion procedures are "essential healthcare" which should continue during this event, Texas Attorney General Paxton made it clear that abortions are included in the temporary ban:
"This prohibition applies throughout the State and to all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary, including routine dermatological, ophthalmological, and dental procedures, as well as most scheduled healthcare procedures that are not immediately medically necessary such as orthopedic surgeries or any type of abortion that is not medically necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother."Violations of this executive order could lead to $1,000 fines or 180 days in jail. Hopefully, abortionists will understand that by at least delaying procedures they can help doctors save lives.
Click here to read more.
March 24, 2020
Ohio Abortion Clinics Defy Governor's Order to Halt Non-Essential Procedures Amidst Pandemic
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| Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost |
On March 20, the Ohio Attorney General's Office issued notices to Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio’s Cincinnati Surgery Center and the Women’s Med Center in Dayton. These notices included a warning that unless non-essential surgical procedures were halted, the Department of Health will take action against these abortion businesses:
"On March 17, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health issued an order pursuant to the Department’s powers under R.C. 3701.13. That order (attached) cancelled all non-essential or elective surgeries and procedures utilizing personal protective equipment (“PPE”) as of 5:00 p.m. on March 18, 2020. The order was issued, in part, to preserve PPE for health care providers who are battling the COVID-19 pandemic that is spreading in our state and also to preserve critical hospital capacity and resources.
The Ohio Department of Health has received a complaint that your facility has been performing or continues to offer to perform surgical abortions, which necessarily involve the use of PPE. On behalf of the Department, you and your facility are ordered to immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions. Non-essential surgical abortions are those that can be delayed without undue risk to the current or future health of a patient. The Department of Health has outlined criteria to consider when determining whether a procedure is essential (see attached order). If you or your facility do not immediately stop performing non-essential or elective surgical abortions in compliance with the attached order, the Department of Health will take all appropriate measures."Stopping abortion procedures (all of which should be considered non-essential) would slow the spread of COVID-19, free important protective equipment such as masks for use in hospitals, and reduce the need for emergency room care by preventing women from facing the complications that can occur during an abortion (such as hemorrhaging).
Click here to read more.
FDA Confirms Regulations Banning Mail Distribution of Abortion Pill will Remain during Pandemic
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| U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar Credit: Chris Williams / Flickr |
“Certain restrictions, known as a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), are necessary for mifepristone when used for medical termination of early pregnancy in order to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh its risks,” the FDA Office of Media Affairs told Vice.
VICE suggested that "… During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS Secretary Alex Azar could perhaps apply Trump’s telehealth mandate to medication abortion by directing the FDA to eliminate or relax its regulations, and allow pregnant people to consult with their providers virtually and obtain mifepristone via their pharmacy or in the mail," but the Trump administration maintains its stance that giving abortion pills to women who haven't physically met with a doctor is dangerous.
Some dangers involved with loose distribution regulations can include women having complications when attempting DIY abortions, and abusive men forcing women to undergo abortions they don't want.
Click here to read more.
March 23, 2020
Euthanasia Lobby Calls for "Teledeath" Euthanasia in Response to COVID-19
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| Credit: Cory Doctorow / Flickr |
"As always, we are responding quickly to the needs and opportunities of the times," she wrote. "As the workforce grapples with the pandemic, telehealth is gaining prominence as a critical mode of delivering medical care. This provides a unique opportunity to make sure health systems and doctors are using telehealth, where appropriate, for patients trying to access end-of-life care options. These efforts should improve access to medical aid in dying in the short and long-term."
If suicide drugs were made available via telemedicine, impulsive individuals in need of other help could possibly access death drugs without ever physically meeting with a psychologist or doctor.
Illinois Planned Parenthood Clinics to Continue Operating During Stay at Home Mandate
Many state governments have announced stay-at-home mandates and declared that all non-essential businesses will remain closed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Different states seem to have different stances on whether abortion clinics are considered "essential," but the pro-abortion state of Illinois will apparently allow clinics to remain open during the pandemic.According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, rather than closing its doors like most other businesses in the state have been forced to do, will instead be consolidating its abortion services to six locations.
“Planned Parenthood of Illinois is taking all necessary precautions to keep our staff and patients healthy and well,” said Planned Parenthood of Illinois Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amy Whitaker. “This temporary consolidation of services is just one part of that. Patients will still need family planning services and abortion care during this time, and we are committed to providing it.”
Planned Parenthood has asked patients to reschedule "non-essential appointments," but it's apparent that the abortion giant will still continue to profit from elective abortions despite the danger they might cause by spreading the coronavirus.
Louisiana is one state which has declared elective abortion to be a non-essential service. State officials are threatening legal action against abortion clinics which have remained open. Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper issued this statement to emphasize the risk to the public these clinics were taking by keeping their doors open:
“Louisiana abortion facilities are endangering the public safety by remaining open during the coronavirus pandemic. With full parking lots and small buildings, it seems probable that these abortion facilities are aiding in the spread of the coronavirus. Abortion is an elective procedure, and postponing abortion, as directed by the Department of Health, would not threaten the physical health of women at these abortion facilities. Pregnancy is not a disease.
“If the delay requires a woman to forgo an abortion due to the pregnancy extending beyond the current legal limit when the unborn child has developed to 20 weeks, then there are public and private agencies that can assist with support both for adoption and parenting. Even in these situations, the safety of the woman has not been jeopardized.
“In infrequent cases where there may be a medical emergency that might threaten the physical life of the mother, hospitals would be the appropriate location to handle those situations, even in these chaotic times, since abortion facilities are not equipped to handle medical emergencies. These abortion facilities are only performing elective procedures.
“The priority for every medical professional during this time of crisis should be stemming the tide of the coronavirus. By remaining open for business, the abortion industry has prioritized its profits over the health and safety of women and all Louisianians.”Click here to read more.
March 20, 2020
Ambulance Keeps Sirens Off as it Transports Hemorrhaging Woman from Planned Parenthood
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| Credit: Operation Rescue |
Pro-lifers participating in 40 Days for Life recorded the incident.
There is no reason to risk the life of a patient experiencing complications after an abortion taking measures designed to save Planned Parenthood's reputation. In emergency situations, medical personnel should value every second by turning on their sirens and ensuring that patients receive medical care as quickly as possible.
According to Operation Rescue, the Riverside Planned Parenthood of California is also responsible for a patient's death in 2007.
Click here to read more.
Abortion Advocates Push for Lifted Abortion Restrictions During Coronavirus Pandemic
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| Photo by cottonbro from Pexels |
Under REMS, abortion pills can only be distributed by qualified clinicians at approved hospitals and clinics. If the restrictions were lifted, non-doctors would be able to sell abortion pills online directly to consumers or ship them to pharmacies.
Self-managed abortions using the abortion pill regimen can be risky since no medical professional is present to intervene if complications arise, which isn't uncommon. In 8% of self-managed abortion cases documented by a TelAbortion study, women sought follow-up care at a medical facility. That number is probably smaller than what would occur in an uncontrolled environment as well since not all women would have the advice of a trained study clinician vetted by an organization trying to prove that telemedical abortion is safe.
March 19, 2020
Google Employee Files $5 Million Countersuit Against Pro-Life Advocate He Assaulted on Video
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| Screenshot of Quinn Chasan from Gribbin's video |
On August 31, Gribbin was writing pro-life messages with chalk on a sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood clinic. Chasan stole Gribbin's chalk and proceeded to walk away and insult Gribbin while he followed; recording their conversation on his phone. A physical altercation followed; a recording of which Gribbin released to the public.
“This is absurd. Michael Gribbin is a victim, not an assailant. There is no way his actions after before, during, or after the assault caused Chasan $5 million in damages,” said Catholic University of America professor Dr. Michael New according to Life Site News. “Furthermore, any negative consequences incurred by Chasan are the direct result of his own misconduct. It is my hope that the judge dismisses Chasan’s countersuit as frivolous.”
Failure to convict Chasan of assault could result in pro-abortion advocates feeling empowered to physically attack pro-life activists in the future.
Click here to read more.
Utah Legislators Pass Law that would Ban Most Abortions if Roe v. Wade is Overturned
On March 9, Utah's House joined the Senate in approving a "trigger" bill which would ban most abortions (with exceptions for cases of rape and incest) if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The bill is currently awaiting the approval of Republican Gov. Gary Herbert.There are currently 8 other states with "trigger laws" in place to outlaw abortion immediately if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Because they don't take effect unless the court reverses the landmark decision, they cannot be challenged in court.
Votes for the "trigger bill" were along party lines in both houses: 22-5 in the Senate and 51-21 in the House.
A bill requiring that abortion facilities bury or cremate the remains of aborted children is also awaiting the Utah governor's signature.
Click here to read more.
"Final Pro-Life Democrat" at the National Level Dan Lipinski Loses Illinois Primary to Pro-Abortion Candidate
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| Dan Lipinski Credit: American Life League / Flickr |
Newman had a 48.2% to 45.8% majority over Lipinski, despite the actions of several pro-life organizations rallying behind him, including heavy spending from the Susan B. Anthony List and grassroots efforts from Students for Life.
Lipinski's record is mixed on abortion-related issues, with his recent vote in favor of the pro-abortion Equal Rights Amendment confusing many, but his opponent campaigned heavily against the pro-life stances Lipinski did take to persuade Democratic voters to reject the incumbent.
It is also argued that the low voter-turnout created by the coronavirus epidemic negatively impacted Lipinski's base more so than his opponent's since campaign events had to be canceled in key areas and older voters may have been more likely to stay home. “Irish Catholics? The 19th Ward? That’s our base,” campaign spokesman Phil Davidson said. “The opportunity just vaporized.”
Click here to read more.
March 18, 2020
Kentucky House Passes First Step to Declaring the State Constitution Doesn't Grant a Right to Abortion
Last Tuesday, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 67-21 to put a referendum on the ballot about a constitutional amendment which would declare that abortion isn't a right Kentucky's constitution.The amendment proposed in House Bill 67 states, “To protect human life, nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.”
The proposed amendment will need to pass the Kentucky senate with a three-fifths majority to be put on the ballot for voters in a referendum.
The House also passed House Bill 451, which would grant the Attorney General additional power to regulate abortion facilities if it became law.
Click here to read more.
Biden Confirms Complete Flip on Public Abortion Funding
During Sunday night's Democratic presidential primary debate, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders challenged former Vice-President Joe Biden on his record in support of the Hyde Amendment, after which Biden confirmed that his stance on the public funding of abortion has shifted completely since his time in the senate.“Right now, a woman’s right to control her own body is under massive assault, unprecedented assault,” Sanders said, to which Biden agreed.
“Joe, you have in the past on more than one occasion, voted for the Hyde Amendment,” Bernie continued, “which says that a woman, low-income woman, could not use Medicaid funding for an abortion. Is that still your view or have you modified it?”
Biden responded that this was “not my view,” and further downplayed his earlier support of the Hyde Amendment as if being associated with it was poisonous to his candidacy by saying “by the way, everybody who’s been in the Congress voted for the Hyde Amendment at one point or another, because it was locked in other bills.”
Biden further elaborated on his position: “if we’re going to have public funding for all healthcare along the line, there is no way you could allow for there to be a requirement that you have Hyde Amendment.”
Later in the debate, Biden even copied one of Sanders's campaign promises by saying that he would “send immediately to the desk of the United States Congress (...), a codification of Roe v Wade amended by Casey. Because I think it is a woman’s right to choose. I think it’s a woman’s opportunity to be able to make that decision.”
Click here to read more.
March 17, 2020
Doctors Without Borders Collaborates to Make Instructional DIY Abortion Video
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| Doctors Without Borders is known most often as Médecins Sans Frontières outside of the United States. Credit: Richard Roche / Flickr |
Manisha Kumar, head of a task force for "safe abortion care" at Doctors Without Borders, said this to Vice: “This course doesn’t use the phrase ‘self-managed abortion,’ but it intentionally uses non-technical, simple language as much as possible because we want everyone to understand the basics about how a medication abortion or an abortion with pills works. I don’t think there should be any secrecy there.”
There are fears among pro-lifers that the reputation of Doctors Without Borders will cause more women to complete at-home abortion procedures without medical supervision.
Click here to read more.
Only Missouri Abortion Clinic Now Referring All Patients to Illinois for Abortions
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| Planned Parenthood "mega-clinic" in Fairview Heights |
The referrals are also in clear contrast with what Yamelsie Rodriguez, CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, told NPR earlier this month. Then, she suggested that patients were contacting the St. Louis Clinic and then choosing to go to Illinois because they did not want to deal with Missouri's required 72-hour waiting period. "When they are weighing their options, the majority of patients are clearly seeing that abortion access is so unmanageable that they're choosing to cross state lines," Rodriguez said. Operation Rescue's call proves this to be a false statement designed to get political points. Read the transcript below:
Caller: I need to get an abortion appointment in St. Louis.
RHSPP: Our St. Louis, Missouri, location doesn’t have any availability at this time. We do have available appointments at the Illinois location.
Caller: I’m not really able to travel out of state. Isn’t there some way you can fit me into the schedule?
RHSPP: We don’t have any op — procedures available at that location at all.
Caller: Oh, like, even though it says online that you offer abortions?
RHSPP: Yes, at this time, the St. Louis, Missouri, location does not have any availability for those services.
Caller: So there’s just no way? Like, you don’t just have a half-hour or an hour that I could get an abortion in St. Louis right now?
RHSPP: No.
Caller: Ok, well, that stinks, because I can’t go out of state. Um, like if I — Is there a way I could pay extra and get the abortion in St. Louis?
RHSPP: No, ma’am.
Click here to read more.
March 16, 2020
6th U.S. Court of Appeals Hears Case Regarding Ohio's Down Syndrome Discriminatory Abortion Ban
In 2017, Ohio passed its Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits the abortion of unborn children purely on the basis of a diagnosis with Down syndrome. It was quickly challenged by pro-abortion forces in the state, and abortion clinics were granted a preliminary injunction against the law's enforcement. Ohio challenged the law, but a three-judge panel ruled in favor of abortionists. Ohio appealed, and the 6th U.S. Court of Appeals had its first hearings last Wednesday.An attorney arguing on behalf of the abortion clinic Preterm-Cleveland argued that the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act was "an absolute ban" on the abortion of unborn children with Down Syndrome, but judges argued against her claim. Judge Raymond Kethledge said that the law "is not a ban" and does not place an undue burden on women seeking an abortion because “It doesn’t regulate the woman at all directly,” since it only regulates doctors who are commit abortions they know are solely based on a Down Syndrome diagnosis.
U.S. Circuit Judge Jeffrey Sutton agreed, saying it was not a terrible idea” to pass laws prohibiting discriminatory selective abortions based on beliefs parents might hold against their child's characteristics.
The federal Department of Justice was also represented at the hearing last Wednesday to defend the Ohio law. “Nothing in Ohio’s law creates a substantial obstacle to women obtaining an abortion,” the Justice Department wrote in an amicus brief, “and nothing in the Constitution or Supreme Court precedent requires States to authorize medical providers to participate in abortions the providers know are based on Down syndrome.”
Click here to read more.
March 13, 2020
Born-Alive Protection Bills Pass Wyoming House and Senate + Alabama House
Abortion-survivor protection bills are making progress in more states, even if their federal counterpart failed to overcome a Senate filibuster.Wyoming's Senate and House of Representatives approved legislation that would require doctors to provide care for children who survive an attempted abortion with the same degree of skill and diligence as they would for any other child born alive at the same gestational age. Since the House voted in favor of the bill on Wednesday, the bill will be sent to pro-life Governor Mark Gordon's desk.
A similar bill also passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday in an overwhelming 66-18 vote. It will soon move on to the senate.
Click here to read more.
White House Officials Say Pelosi Tried to Include Abortion Funding in Coronavirus Stimulus Bill
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| Credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr |
The provision in question would mandate up to $1 billion to reimburse "laboratory claims" which White House officials say would provide federal taxpayer dollars to abortion clinics while going around the Hyde Amendment, which normally blocks all federal funding to abortion clinics.
“A new mandatory funding stream that does not have Hyde protections would be unprecedented,” a White House official told the Daily Caller. “Under the guise of protecting people, Speaker Pelosi is working to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent covering abortion — which is not only backwards, but goes against historical norms.”
Politico later confirmed that the Hyde Amendment provision was causing deadlock on the stimulus bill, and the pro-abortion language was eventually removed. It is still planned to go to the House floor as a separate bill, however.
Afterward, pro-abortion politicians hit the media circuit, telling the country that pro-life politicians were slowing down the government's coronavirus response by arguing about pro-life issues during a crisis.
Click here to read more.House Dems are trying to force an amendment to the Coronavirus relief bill that would make taxpayers fund abortions. @AOC just claimed pro-lifers are holding it up.— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) March 12, 2020
Children are relatively unaffected by Coronavirus, but abortion activists are still trying to kill them. pic.twitter.com/7J3dBlDN9l
Abortionists Argue for Increased Telemedicine Abortions During Coronavirus Pandemic
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| Credit: jeshoots.com / Pexels |
"#COVID2019 is a good time to remind you that Self-Managed abortion is safe, avoids in person appointments, and will be necessary to address the increased incidence of unintended pregnancies that will result from self-quarantine," wrote Dr. Dustin Costescu.
The claim that women will become pregnant while they quarantine themselves for contracting the coronavirus is a bit strange, but the OBGYN and “sexual medicine specialist” at McMaster University had more to say.
He touted that 95% of at-home abortions using abortion pills are successfully completed without the need for medical intervention. He immediately conflicted with that statement, however; by saying that systems need to be in place to respond to women who experience complications during their at-home abortions.Pregnant patients with low risk of ectopic pregnancy and with reasonable certainty of their last period being within 8 weeks can safely use mifepristone followed by misoprostol with over 95% probability of successful completion without medical intervention.— Dr. Dustin Costescu (@BirthControlDoc) March 10, 2020
Having an abortion with a physician present would be far safer than having one at home, since medical intervention would be much faster in those scenarios, even assuming that women follow the process correctly.
Click here to read more.
March 12, 2020
College Student Shares Story of Teacher Helping Her Balance School and Motherhood
Abortion advocates often argue that it is best for women in college to seek abortions if they want to be successful in school. A student and her professor at Lander University in South Carolina are proving that it's possible for women to be both good mothers and successful students at the same time.Sarah Thompson shared photos of her professor on her Instagram page, who was teaching class while holding her son. Dr. Josie Ryan volunteered to do this so Thompson's arms would be free to write notes.
“She knows I worked and continued school at USC while pregnant this past semester,” Thompson wrote. “I started her class the week before I had my son in August and started attending her class again the week after I had him. She knew I’d be overwhelmed so literally begged me to bring Isaiah to class and even showed me where the breastfeeding room in the health center was at Lander University.”
Thompson hopes that her story will inspire other women struggling with the commitments of school, work, and parenthood to seek the help of others willing to take the extra step to make sure they succeed.
Click here to read more.
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