28 Feb 2013 1:34 pm
Kansas Bill Would Protect Doctors Who Mislead Women About Their PregnanciesThe Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee recommended a bill yesterday that would effectively allow doctors to lie or withhold information about debilitating genetic conditions or birth defects in order to influence womens decisions about their pregnancies.Kansas SB 142 provides blanket protection from wrongful birth lawsuits to doctors, with section 1(a) reading:No civil action may be commenced in any court for a claim of wrongful life or wrongful birth, and no damages may be recovered in any civil action for any physical condition of a minor that existed at the time of such minors birth if the damages sought arise out of a claim that a persons action or omission contributed to such minors mother not obtaining an abortion. The Arizona State Senate passed a similar law in 2012, but that proposal contained a provision absent from the Kansas bill allowing wrongful birth suits in the event of an intentional or grossly negligent act or omission.The proposal was included as a provision in an omnibus anti-abortion bill last year, but was so controversial that it ending up being submitted as a standalone bill in this cycle, according to Kansas NOW lobbyist Elise Higgins.Despite Kansas's dismal reproductive rights record, Kansas legislators have already introduced over 90 pages of anti-choice legislation in 2013.Giving legal cover to doctors to lie or withhold information from women about any debilitating genetic conditions or birth defects that the fetus she is carrying may have, without fear of consequences.There's your 'small government' party in action.A woman has no right to know if the fetus she is carrying is healthy or not.After all, she's too stupid to make an informed decision on her own.Remember that healthy baby you were expecting?Surprise!I'm sure the next bill introduced will be a bill that provides all kinds of assistance for parents raising a child with special needs.