In an effort to roll back the state’s law on abortion, Republican legislators say they have the votes to overturn Gov. Laura Kelly’s recent vetoes on three bills.
The first is misguidedly referred to as the “born alive” bill and alleges fetuses are being left to die in late-term abortions.
The second bill disingenuously suggests that medically induced abortions can be reversed mid-course.
The third makes it more difficult for medical clinics and providers who perform abortions to access liability insurance.
Kelly vetoed House Bill 2313, the “born alive” bill on April 14 mainly because existing state law already requires care be provided in the rare chance a fetus survives a late-term abortion. The only difference with the new law is that those who do not comply could face felony charges.
The overwhelming majority of late-term abortions occur because either the baby has a lethal anomaly so severe it won’t survive outside of the womb, or the pregnancy is endangering the mother’s life.
Only 1 percent of abortions performed in the United States occur after 21 weeks. Kansas outlaws abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy except in cases of the mother’s life being in jeopardy.
The law’s “born alive” wording makes it sound as if newborn infants are callously being left to die. To equate palliative care with infanticide in such cases is a great injustice to both the parents and their healthcare providers.
On April 19, Kelly vetoed House Bill 2264, which amends the Woman’s-Right-to-Know Act to include the lie that certain medically induced abortions can be reversed mid-course.
The theory is that women in the first 10 weeks of their pregnancy and who have begun medication-induced abortion can reverse the process by taking large doses of progesterone.
Abortion by medication is a two-dose process. The first pill is mifepristone, which halts the pregnancy by inhibiting the growth hormone progesterone. The second pill, misoprostol, is taken 48 to 72 hours later to complete the process.
In Kansas, two-thirds of abortions are administered this way.
Republicans contend mifepristone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy and that progesterone could reverse the process if administered before the second drug is given.
Health officials warn this is dangerous to the mother’s health because studies have shown severe hemorrhaging when attempted.
On April 24, Kelly nixed House Bill 2325 which allows certain pregnancy centers to be designated as a “healthcare provider” and as such qualify for the state’s Healthcare Provider Insurance Availability Act. On the flip side, the bill eliminates abortion clinics from such privileges meaning they cannot purchase liability insurance from the Healthcare Stabilization Fund.
