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Elections Matter,
Laws Matter, You Matter! Part Two of Three By Dave Andrusko Let's see if we can't determine what the following three news stories, taken together, may tell us. First, from yesterday's Orange County Register, "Dr. Andrew Rutland, the Anaheim obstetrician-gynecologist accused by the California Medical Board of homicide in the death of an abortion patient, has agreed to surrender his medical license for a second time. Rutland, 67, will give up his license effective Feb. 11, rather than face disciplinary proceedings for allegations of gross negligence in the death of Ying Chen, who suffered a toxic reaction to anesthesia in 2009. Board documents allege that the storefront San Gabriel clinic was not equipped to handle emergencies, and that Rutland failed to recognize her reaction, adequately attempt resuscitation or promptly call 911." Second, from the Associated Press, Kansas Health and Environment Secretary Robert Moser told AP Monday "that his office will require abortion providers to give the state more details about late-term procedures they perform." Moser said while his Department's interpretation is "different than how the law has been enforced in the past," it is "in line with the intent of a 1998 law." That law allows abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy (when the unborn "is viable, or capable of sustained survival outside the womb without extraordinary medical means") "only if the life of the pregnant woman or girl is in danger or if she faces a substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function." In the past when the governors were pro-abortion, when abortionists filed a report on these post-21-week abortions, the Department of Health and Environment allowed them "to repeat the exact substantial and irreversible impairment phrase in the law in their reports, without a more detailed medical diagnosis, arguing it was the only thing legally required." In other words, for 13 years they were given a blank check under which 3,000 such abortion were performed. This despite the fact that not only does the law itself require that the abortionist state the basis for his determination that continuing the pregnancy would cause such an impairment, the Department of Health forms themselves provide a place for them.
Third, from a very critical editorial in today's New Jersey Star-Journal. "As a younger politician, [Gov. Chris] Christie favored abortion rights, but he says he changed his mind 14 years ago when his wife, Mary Pat, became pregnant with their daughter, Sarah. 'It was at that moment that it became clear to me that being on the sidelines of this issue was not something that I could live with,' he said. 'That child is a life which deserves protection.'" The editorial went on to say, while "there are no grounds to doubt the governor's sincerity," what's "unsettling is that the governor would impose his spiritual conversion on the rest of us." The immediate impetus was Gov. Christie's appearance at a pro-life rally Monday commemorating the 38th anniversary of Roe, but the editorial page's anger stems from Christie's determination to keep funds for Planned Parenthood--the nation's largest abortion provider--and similar organizations out of the state budget. Clearly, there are a couple of lessons. It is very, very difficult to put abortionists out of business, and even harder to keep them out of business. According to the Register's Andy Templeton , Rutland gave up his license in 2002 "after allegations of negligence in the death of two babies, scaring patients into unnecessary hysterectomies, botching surgeries, lying to patients, falsifying medical records, over-prescribing painkillers and having sex with a patient in his office." He also "admitted to negligence in the death of Jillian Broussard, a newborn whose spinal cord was torn during a forceps delivery." So how did he get reinstated five years later? By "demonstrating rehabilitation and expressing remorse," Templeton writes. Ying Chen is now dead. Second, it makes a huge difference who is governor, particularly because it can mean replacing people who are in the abortion lobby's pocket. Kansas' new governor is former Senator Sam Brownback. Mr. Moser told the AP he has not talked to Brownback about abortion, and that the Department of Health and Environment is not changing any state regulations but only enforcing existing reporting requirements. Interestingly, before attributing Gov. Christie's actions to a "spiritual conversion," the Star-Ledger actually made a very important point: "This change of heart can happen to men and women when they become parents." Yes! More to the point, this change of heart can come about even with an abortion-vulnerable woman, provided she is allowed to see her baby on an ultrasound. A very close friend of our family told me about exactly that kind of conversion just this week! The light of truth matters, which is why pro-abortionists count on us remaining in the dark. Please send your comments to daveandrusko@gmail.com. If you like, join those who are following me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/daveha. |
