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Column: Why Florida's abortion clinic bill makes sense

 
Published June 28, 2016

As I read and listen to the reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Whole Woman's Health vs. Hellerstedt, I am deeply concerned about the clear double standard that permeates the pro-abortion movement when it comes to women's health and abortion.

In his dissenting opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas addresses some of ways in which this double standard has taken root in our judicial system, noting the court's "troubling tendency to bend the rules when any effort to limit abortion, or even speak in opposition to abortion is at issue." He further notes the court's "habit of applying different rules to constitutional rights — especially the putative right to abortion." I wish I could say these contradictory standards were limited to legal rulings from Washington; unfortunately they are all too often on display right here in Florida.

When we look at any other type of medical care for any other segment of our population, we demand excellence. We impose basic requirements on medical providers intended to ensure the best quality of care for everyone, including our veterans, our children, the elderly and the impoverished. Yet, when it comes to vulnerable women seeking abortion services, advocates fight against even the most basic standards of medical care.

It is offensive to me that here in Florida we set standards for minimally invasive outpatient surgery, but do not apply those same sound and widely accepted medical standards to safeguard the health of women undergoing invasive abortion procedures. This is far from the first example of pro-abortion doublespeak.

During my eight years serving in Florida House and Senate, I have attended committee meetings and floor sessions, listened to countless hours of public testimony and participated in lengthy debates during which the most vehement pro-abortion advocates argue parents should be notified when their daughter receives an aspirin from the school nurse, but not when she seeks an abortion.

Advocates support parental notification for tattoos, body piercings and even tanning beds, but reject the notion parents should be notified when their young daughter makes the irreversible decision to undergo an invasive medical procedure akin to outpatient surgery as she terminates a pregnancy, ending the life of a grandchild her parents will never know.

The pervasive double standard does not stop there. Advocates argue dogs and cats should be sedated prior to euthanasia, but oppose anesthesia requirements for innocent unborn human beings taken from their mothers' wombs. They argue for increased reporting on animals euthanized at local shelters, but against enhanced reporting on babies killed at abortion clinics.

We prohibit the sale of a dog or cat less than eight weeks of age; meanwhile pro-abortion advocates were irate we even took a second look at clinics accused of selling the organs, tissues and limbs of aborted babies. We have passed laws to make it easier to remove animals from a hot cars, while pro-abortion advocates decry legislation requiring a baby who survives an abortion be transported to a hospital. The same groups who desire to protect turtle eggs in nests fight against even the slightest effort to protect a baby in the womb.

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To address this double standard and protect the health of women who encounter complications during their abortions, I was the Senate sponsor of the bill (HB 1411) that required physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within reasonable proximity or a written patient transfer agreement.

Texas' HB 2, the subject of Monday's ruling, did not have an option for clinics to have transfer agreements without admitting privileges. The Texas law also requires clinic buildings to meet the same building standards as walk-in surgical centers, a requirement not found in our bill.

My goal for this bill is to safeguard women's health, not to close abortion clinics. Having once been a scared teenage mother myself, I understand the turmoil these women face. I also understand laws and court rulings cannot change hearts. I pray every woman in our state will see her child as gift from God. I did, and that little girl grew up to be a soldier fighting for the lives and freedom of millions of other people in the War on Terror.

Our legislation will not prevent a single abortion, and it will not close a single clinic. What it will do is ensure a vulnerable mother choosing to terminate her pregnancy has access to appropriate medical care. It is a standard we should all support.

Sen. Kelli Stargel represents District 15, which includes portions of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties, in the Florida Senate. She is a mother of five children and resides in Lakeland with her husband, John.