Let's *Not* Allow Birth Control to Be Defined as Abortion

[qos]

The Department of Health and Human Services just kicked off a 30-day period to consider public input before making a final decision on whether or not birth control should be redefined as abortion.

If you want to make your voice heard on this subject, you can email the address set up for comments: consciencecomment@hhs.gov


I just sent mine. . .

Comments

[a-belletrist.livejournal.com]

I don't even know that they CAN legally make a blanket decision like that. I suppose it's in relation to whether or not birth control methodologies can be prescribed by DSHS clinics/doctors, or sold through state-run pharmacies.

It makes me crazy.

[qos.livejournal.com]

I don't even know that they CAN legally make a blanket decision like that.

"Legality" hasn't always been a concern of this administration.

Whether the DHHS actually can have an impact with this or not, I'd rather jump up and down now -- actually: write a succinct, rational email -- than allow it to go unremarked. I'm tired of the conservatives claiming the moral high ground in public discourse. I've stopped trusting that our basic freedoms are going to be preserved by my government because it's part of their fundamental responsibility.

[a-belletrist.livejournal.com]

I've stopped trusting that our basic freedoms are going to be preserved by my government because it's part of their fundamental responsibility.

True that.

[a-belletrist.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, and I was assuming this was the State level of DHSH, and it's not. It's at the Federal level.

Dammit!

[mishamish.livejournal.com]

From what I've read, it's more that they are redefining pregnancy as starting at fertilization instead of implantation, which could then redefine several methods of contraception (specifically, most female contraceptives) as being abortion.

Is there information that I'm not aware of? Could you point me to the specific article this request for comments is associated with?

[mishamish.livejournal.com]

(Also, several articles are reminding people to specify "provider conscience regulation" as the subject line... not sure if comments without it get junkmailed or not)

[athenian-abroad.livejournal.com]

Here's a Reuters story that quotes the language that seems to have raised the concerns.

The officially proposed rule can be downloaded here.

The language quoted by Reuters doesn't seem to be in the rule as proposed, so it looks to me like this was nipped in the bud.

[mishamish.livejournal.com]

Ah. I had seen the offial proposal you saw, but - as you said - the language had been nipped. Still, the loophole exists as long as the DHHS defines conception as occurring at the fertilization of the egg, flying in the face of the ABOG and ACOG definition of occurring at implantation.

We Win!

[athenian-abroad.livejournal.com]

It looks like we've already won this battle. The language which was reported to be in the leaked draft of the regulation doesn't seem to be in the actual proposed rule.

The official version ishere.

[queenofhalves]

i wonder if it would be that bad of a thing. even most american catholics aren't going to let anyone take their hormonal birth control away; if the pill is abortion, then more people will fight to protect "abortion."