To the editor:
Atty. Gen. Phill Kline's lawsuit against Gov. Kathleen Sebelius asks the court to determine that life starts at fertilization when "a new, unique and genetically distinct human being is formed, distinct from its host while dependent upon her." He also wants to keep the state from using Medicaid funds to pay for abortions for low-income women in cases of rape or incest, or even if the life of the woman is endangered (Journal-World, Aug. 19).
It may be difficult to envision a fertilized egg as a human being, but there is certainly at least one unique human involved in any pregnancy. That is the pregnant woman, here called the "host." Barbara Duke's excellent letter (Aug. 23) took the "host" term to indicate parasite-host relations. I will consider a hospitality metaphor. In cases of rape and incest, the "guest" was not invited. If the host is prosperous or insured, the "guest" may be legally expelled. If a low-income woman must depend on Medicaid, the guest must be entertained for nine months.
If an invited "guest" threatens the life of the "host," that guest may be expelled, if the host is prosperous or insured. But a low-income "host," dependent on Medicaid, must continue to entertain the "guest," until death, or childbirth, or both occur. For advocates of the right to life, even of an egg, the life of a low-income woman, a "host," is not valued. Is that compassionate conservatism?
Mary Davidson,
Lawrence
Comments
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craigers (anonymous) says…
If the woman's life is endangered then that is a different situation. This uninvited guest that you refer to is also an "innocent" guest/victim in the whole ordeal of abortion. This new being didn't ask to be conceived, it happened and the baby isn't guilty of anything, especially anything that would call for the termination of its life.
jg (anonymous) says…
I cannot believe that you would make a rape or incest victim go through pregnancy and childbirth. Have you ever noticed that pregnancy is very visible? That well meaning people feel compelled to ask lots of questions and make lots of comments?
Recovery from rape is intensely difficult (the rate of suicides is high)and adding on major health concerns and "is it a boy or a girl?" to this private hell is more than we should ask of any woman.
especially if the woman could have access to the morning after pill and likely prevent the pregnancy in the first place. But for some reason that is deemed to be a bad option by many people too!
Speakout (anonymous) says…
In the case of rape or other situations where the "guest" is uninvited or is forced upon the host"ess", there is reason for abortion in the first trimester. But women who are married and conceived the child with their husbands, should refrain from such a practice without agreement between the husband and the wife.
In my opinion, the husband's body and the wife's body is not exclusively theirs. It belongs to both, just as the child in the womb belongs to both. A decision on a woman's part, if married, should carry the agreement of the husband, if he is the father, of course.
craigers (anonymous) says…
jg, I never said my belief is a popular one. However, if I am going to say that in general abortion is wrong because of the life that it terminates and that life is innocent, then I must remain true on all accounts. In every case the baby is an innocent victim. It is very rare that the woman is in fear of death due to her pregnancy and if that is the case, then it is usually a case where the baby couldn't make it in the NICU even if they tried, or it might be an ectopic pregnancy, which could never go to full term. I know there are others but I am sure you see my point. The rape or incest victim pregnancies have a viable chance of being born, but are never given the opportunity.
onehotmomma (anonymous) says…
craigers, your right, in this day and age, very few women risk death with pregnancy. I do think that if you looked at the rape and incest cases, mental health of the victim is more of the issue. How many young girls committ suicide because of the abuse? And add a pregnancy on top of the abuse and this girl doesn't really have much of a chance to recover mentally or emotionally. Rape can also lead to a host of mental health issues.
It seems to me that the life created in incest and rape is a life created in hatred, not love.
rtwngr (anonymous) says…
The "rape or incest" clause is a red herring argument. First of all, rarely does a rape result in a pregnancy. Virtually never. The percentages on incest are vague at best because of the medical privacy laws that exist. Atty. Gen. Kline has tried to obtain records from abortion clinics that would allow him to pursue cases of incest but has been blocked at every turn.
Life begins at conception. No matter how conceived, it is an innocent life with a beating heart. No body has the right to end it, not even the mother.
onehotmomma (anonymous) says…
The government is the one who created HIPPA Privacy laws. Not the medical providers. So the very laws that our government passed to protect the privacy of patients, has cost the healthcare industry millions of dollars to comply with, is bitting him in the butt.
Our tax dollars, hard at work!!!
jg (anonymous) says…
Virtually never? I have known 2 women who have gotten pregnant through rape. And the fact that it doesn't happen every day does nothing to lessen the pain and suffering that a rape victim is already going through.
Every precisous egg must be saved, but the life of a woman or girl that has already been traumatized doesn't matter at all?
mermily (anonymous) says…
i just want to add one thing to speakout's comment....spousal agreements is always the best case scenario. that all but goes without saying! if the marriage is as it should be and all is well, discussion and agreement is what happens naturally with no need for legislative requirements. however, it is the exact situation when a women can't tell her husband that is the problem and why laws mandating consent put woman at risk.
the number one cause of death for pregnant women is homicide (http://www.now.org/issues/violence/04...) and most typically at the hands of the "father"! spousal abuse runs ramped in our society and spousal rape laws (not even a crime through the 70s) and spousal sexual assault laws go unprosecuted for a number of reasons. one of the most dangerous places for a women is in her home.....for all these reasons, spousal consent can't be required. married individuals in healthy relationships WILL tell each other....those that don't, likely have a reason.