Utah governor Gary Herbert signed a bill into law Monday that requires doctors to give anesthesia to pregnant women who have an abortion at 20 weeks or later.
Advertisement
(REUTERS / Jim Urquhart)Utah Governor Gary Herbert talks about the state’s economic development in Salt Lake City, Utah January 11, 2012. However, doctors in Utah and other places said that there isn’t any evidence that fetuses feel anything during that time in pregnancy, and that sedating women at the time of the procedure makes them vulnerable to complications.
Utah now has a law on the books requiring doctors to give anesthesia to abortion patients 20 or more weeks into pregnancy in an effort to reduce pain felt by the fetus.
Many doctors in Utah and throughout the country are concerned that the proposal could pose a risk to women because fetal anesthesia is unnecessary.
That belief is now codified into Utah state law. As it stands, it’s nothing more than risky medical meddling and a punishment and shaming tactic against women who have elective abortions.
‘You’re telling women that they have to have something that’s going to increase their risk based on a conclusion that is not true, ‘ said Dr. Sean Esplin of Intermountain Healthcare in Utah. Many abortion providers already recommend IV sedation or general anesthesia for second-trimester abortions, especially ones as late as 20 weeks, making this new law a purely political gambit.
Yes, the state said Monday, when it became the only state in the nation to require doctors to give anesthesia to women undergoing abortions at 20 weeks or later.
When can a fetus feel pain? State law normally allows abortions until viability, which is at about 22 weeks. “However, the Association did convince the bill’s sponsor, Republican senator Curt Bramble of Provo, to change the words “[the fetus] is capable of experiencing pain” to “[the fetus] may be capable of experiencing pain”.
Laura Bunker of the conservative group United Families International said if there is any chance a fetus feels pain at 20 weeks, doctors should do everything possible to make sure they are comfortable. His bill, which requires that doctors “eliminate or alleviate organic pain to the unborn child”, was the next best option, he said.
When the bill went before the state Senate earlier this month, the Deseret News reported that “Bramble said premature children are surviving today at 20 weeks”. She said in some instances, such as when a fetus isn’t viable, doctors would let the mother deliver and hold the baby as it dies.
Sen. Bramble originally planned to attempt banning abortions after 20 weeks, but stopped after being told it would be unconstitutional, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Utah has taken a fresh approach to legislating around a woman’s right to an abortion.
Advertisement
‘You never give those medicines if you don’t have to, ‘ Turok said.
