Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"I get a call from a physician who tells me that our patient is 28 weeks pregnant and the fetus is dying from a naturally occurring condition. As the fetus dies, the woman's body can quickly become infected and she can die as well. So, why are they calling me?

"Because in Missouri (in public facilities), if there is still a heartbeat, it is considered an abortion to terminate the pregnancy. So, the question becomes...is the woman close enough to dying to justify the abortion.

"Let me repeat that: me, a lawyer, has to help a trained physician make the decision of whether their patient is near enough to death (under the law) for them to take action that is agreed to by the patient (and often their spouse).

[...]

"And, under the heartbeat rules (now standard in several states), there is serious question about whether an ectopic pregnancy can be treated before the Fallopian tube ruptures (a life threatening condition).

"Here is my point to this story. The government is incapable of drafting legislation that can cover all of the nuances of human reproduction."

-- Lisa Larson-Bunnell (L_LarsonBunnell), 2022-06-27