To the editor:

The health of Kansas women hangs in the balance as Gov. Sebelius decides the fate of House Bill 2176. This legislation purports to safeguard women’s health when the real purpose is to limit access to abortion services for political reasons.

Supporters have completely failed to make their case. Data does not prove a need for singling out abortion. It is among the safest procedures in the United States and in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has collected statistics since 1980 and reports no deaths due to “induced termination of pregnancy.” However, just since 1990, KDHE reports more than 100 deaths from other surgical and medical procedures.

Most clinics where abortion is provided also serve their communities with important family planning services like birth control, cancer screening and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. If HB 2176 is successful in shutting them down, it’s not just access to abortion that would be affected.

Currently, the Kansas Board of Healing Arts oversees all office-based surgery and just recently adopted new standards written by the Kansas Medical Society. If this is enough oversight for colonoscopies and vasectomies, it’s enough for abortions.

Please join me in urging Gov. Sebelius to veto this bill. It’s dressed up like pro-health but is really antihealth.

Julia Gilmore Gaughan,

Lawrence