Read on Twitter
THREAD tomorrow, NH House Judiciary committee is going to hear a really dangerous bill. It’s pretty confusing, so I’m going to explain what HB 233 (relative to the right of any infant born alive to medically appropriate and reasonable care and treatment) really means: #nhpolitics
HB 233 isn’t about abortion. Period. Full stop.
HB 233 is designed to confuse people. “Born alive” is not a thing. It’s fear-mongering. Infants born are already protected under NH criminal statutes. Any suggestion otherwise is very offensive to medical professionals.
To sum up: when infants are born, they are cared for. So since this bill is completely unnecessary because doctors are already obligated to provide appropriate medical care, why oppose this bill? Good question.
Well, like all legislation, there are significant consequences to HB 233. Extremely significant. Let’s discuss.
This bill could dictate end-of-life care for *grieving parents*. Seriously. While this bill has nothing to do w/ abortion, it DOES have to do with early labor. Early labor is devastating. Example: @chrissyteigen & John Legend: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/style/chrissy-teigen-john-legend-baby.html
We are talking about a much-wanted pregnancy. Families want to leave the hospital with a newborn.
This is time-sensitive care: if you go into early labor, it’s because something is wrong (with the pregnant person or fetus). Doctors are working to save lives.
This is time-sensitive care: if you go into early labor, it’s because something is wrong (with the pregnant person or fetus). Doctors are working to save lives.
But sometimes an infant is born prematurely w a health issue so severe - EX: no lungs- that even with the most advanced medical team of neonatal specials available, the most appropriate care involves neonatal hospice. This is complicated and sad. What does it have to do w/ bill?
If passed, HB 233 could require doctors to put babies on brutal invasive resuscitative interventions. This means that holding and comforting your baby for its final hours could be *prohibited*.
The very idea of legislating how families can grieve is beyond enraging. How could this happen? Did the HB 233 sponsors not know? Not care? Unclear. but we have to let physicians and families make these decisions together.
If you agree that some politicians shouldn’t dictate how parents can grieve during their most vulnerable hours, make sure you oppose HB 233 before Wednesday, 2/10 at 1pm in House Judiciary: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
Finally, if you want to learn more, take five more minutes to read this article. Thanks for listening #nhpolitics https://truthout.org/articles/why-supporting-families-who-have-abortions-later-in-pregnancy-is-my-lifes-work/
