Hey guys, this is Stephanie. This week I found one of the more interesting current even topics (for me at least) to be what's going on in Missouri with the so-called raised health expectations for Abortion clinics. So, if you haven't heard about this, basically Missouri is trying to BAN abortion without actually banning it. They're being super sneaky and found a way to run all of the clinic (and doctors) out of business so women would not have the option to have an abortion in that state.
These absurd health code "corrections" include:
-widening hallways (because obviously its really a major health risk to have small hallways)
-raising ceilings
-installing locker rooms
-rerouting plumbing
-creating surgical "suites" with emergency resuscitation equipment, even if there are no surgeries performed in those rooms.
Although Missouri claims that it intends to improve these environments for the safety of the women who have abortions there, the changes that they are requiring ultimately will end up costing about $1 million, a great deal of money which most of the abortion clinics do not have. These clinics that cannot afford to pay for the "necessary" changes will be forced to close down. Now, all in all this is a bad idea, because no matter what some women will go to all means possible to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, and if these clinics, which seem to be relatively safe now, are shut down, then young girls and women will be forced to become involved in extremely dangerous back-alley abortions, which are much less safe where no one cares what the size of the hallways and ceilings are.
Although a number of these clinics do not tend to the women in the way that they should, they should not have to go to outrageous costs and procedures in order to be deemed safe by the government. It is ultimately the women's choice what to do with her body, and the state should not be able to rid her of places where she can get a procedure that she feels is necessary. There are ways we can make abortion clinics safer, but widening hallways and putting in lockers does not change how well a women is treated and how she feels after the procedure.
-Stephanie Dotto
3 comments:
Hey Steph,
First off, props on not talking about the War on Terror :). Secondly, thanks for making me aware of this issue. I had no idea and reading your blog actually taught me something new! Anyway, you're right, that is totally sneaky and ridiculous. Higher ceilings and wider hallways have nothing to do with the safety of the medical procedures. I can't believe that the government supports this stuff. I think it's really interesting that they're trying to avoid media and telling the public the truth by just calling them abortion law "alterations." Totally lame. I know that back-alley abortions are very dangerous and I hope these women aren't forced into that kind of situation as a result of a few Republican agendas.
- Savannah
It seems pretty outrageous that Missouri thinks they can stop abortion. The state does not have a right to take away these women's rights. I agree that getting the clinics to close down will not stop women from getting rid of an unwanted baby. Human beings have the right to decide what they do with their own bodies. It is ridiculous to put women in this dangerous situation. Back-alley abortions could even end in fatality. As a state I would not want that sort of guilt on my shoulders.
Hey Steph,
This is a great article that brings up a subject we all need to be aware of. Missouri's new policies are propelling women's rights backwards through time where they dont get a say in what happens to their own body. Whatever anyone's view on abortion, women need clinics where they can get proper procedures so they don't have to turn to dangerous practices in an attempt to terminate a pregnancy. Besides, what if there is a problem where the baby is endangering the mother's health? Where will she turn to then? Missouri just needs to face the fact that abortion is a right to all women and they must keep it alive, rather than running all the clinics out of the state.
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