Jim Rosica
State Sen. Kelli Stargel, the sponsor of this year’s abortion legislation, said in a statement a “clear double standard … permeates the pro-abortion movement.”
The Lakeland Republican responded to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Monday in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt.
It struck down a Texas abortion-restriction law because it “unduly burden(s)” women’s reproductive rights.
The Texas law was similar to a measure passed in Florida this year. It also requires doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and requires clinics where they work to be set up and regulated like outpatient surgical centers.
“To protect the health of vulnerable women who encounter complications during their abortion procedures, Florida’s HB 1411 requires physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within reasonable proximity or a written patient transfer agreement,” Stargel wrote.
“Texas’ HB 2, the subject of today’s ruling, did not have an option for clinics to have transfer agreements if they did not obtain admitting privileges,” she added. “The Texas law also requires clinic buildings to meet the same building standards as walk-in surgical centers, a requirement not found in Florida’s law.”
Here’s the rest of her statement:
“As I listen to the analysis and rhetoric following today’s Supreme Court decision, I am even more concerned about the clear double standard that permeates the pro-abortion movement when it comes to women’s health. When we look at any other type of medical care for any other segment of our population, we demand excellence. For our veterans, for our children, for the elderly and for the impoverished, we fight to make certain that people have access to the best care available. Yet, when it comes to vulnerable women seeking abortion services, abortion advocates fight against even the most basic standards of medical care.
“In Florida, we passed HB 1411 to safeguard women’s health, not to close abortion clinics. The same liberty and privacy concerns exist for outpatient surgical procedures as for abortion procedures. It is offensive to me as a woman that we should establish a set standards for minimally invasive outpatient surgery, but not apply those same sound and widely accepted medical standards to safeguard the health of women undergoing invasive abortion procedures.
“I pray that every woman in our state will see her child as gift from God and not subject herself or her unborn child to an abortion procedure. HB 1411 will not prevent a single abortion, and it will not close a single clinic. What HB 1411 will do is ensure that a vulnerable mother choosing to terminate her pregnancy has access to the appropriate medical care.”
