Last week it surfaced that anti-abortionists in Texas have launched a new assault plan: requiring medical facilities that provide abortions to pay for the cremation or burial costs of fetal remains rather than dispose them as biological medical waste. Going into action on December 19, this endeavor alone produces a pandora’s box of consequences, both financial and ethical.
It provides yet another barrier to women seeking abortions due to rising costs placed upon insurance companies, along with creating the controversial perspective that the fetal remains will be essentially mourned for with the process of cremation or burial. Cremation and burial rituals are unique in the fact that one of the main attributes that defines us as human beings is grief; significance and meaning placed upon the life of another. On the other hand, attaching this belief to an otherwise standard medical procedure discourages women from receiving needed abortions due to guilt and moral implications.
As of even more recently, Texas has unleashed yet another attack against abortions and women rights. A new abortion pamphlet in Texas falsely connects abortions to breast cancer and various other health risks, and is extremely biased in the information and statistics chosen to be used. This new abortion pamphlet is required by law to be given to all women considering an abortion and is titled “A Women’s Right to Know“.
Yes, as with any medical procedure, women should be thoroughly informed of all proven risks and facts in order to gain a clear understanding of any consequences as well as benefits. Yet, when a medical pamphlet uses the words “your baby” more than 60 times to describe a standard procedure it becomes clear that this pamphlet provides a more sinister and dogmatic motive than simply providing necessary information.
Connoting the fetus with the words “your baby” contributes to an emotional aspect; during a time when many scientists have yet to agree whether a fetus can be considered a human or not, purely in terms of physical development.
Ultimately, while this pamphlet propagates a messy and deceitful alternate agenda, one thing is clear. The utter health and well-being of women, not solely in Texas, is placed on the back burner in favor of ulterior goals and motives incongruent to women’s rights. If not in support of abortion, at least provide credible facts and studies to serve the lives of the women in need, especially since a medical facility and hospital should be the guiding light at this moment in a woman’s life. Now, instead, at least in Texas, a shadow of guilt and oppression are swallowing women’s rights and attempting to foster an oblivion of dogmatic beliefs.
