I testified in the Idaho legislature in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. My written testimony can be found here. The law, as enacted is a modest expansion of protection for the unborn. Currently the US Supreme Court has recognized the state’s right to strictly limit access to abortion after the child has […]
Here are stories from the National Right to Life News and LifeNews on a lawsuit that has been filed challenging the constitutionality of Idaho’s Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which bans abortion after 20 weeks to prevent fetal pain. http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2011/09/idaho-woman-challenges-unborn-child-pain-protection-act/ and http://www.lifenews.com/2011/08/31/first-lawsuit-filed-on-fetal-pain-based-20-week-abortion-ban/ Richard M.
Massachusetts Citizens for Life provide links to a new website with thoughtful commentary on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, “Choice” is an Illusion. The site is run by an elder law attorney, and her practical experience in the area shows. Another good website on euthanasia is the Nightingale Alliance and Wesley Smith’s blog, Secondhand Smoke, often […]
The Virginia Department of Health has invited public comment on proposed regulations of abortion clinics in that state. UFL member, Michael New, has posted a brief comment on the proposed clinic regulations on NRO. This is an opportunity for our members to assist in the formation of sound public policy. You can find the proposed […]
Yuval Levin discusses the two approaches to healthcare reform today in Help the Sick and Reduce the Debt: The Moral Economy of the Health-Care Debate on Public Discourse blog. He describes the Democratic proposal as one focused on expanding availability of health insurance through government programs, which they argue will reduce costs through bringing greater […]
UFL member, Richard Stith, has posted a new article, Anti-choice: When Having a Choice Diminishes Family Solidarity, on SSRN. Richard argues that the availability of abortion causes many family members to reject or reduce support for women who continue their pregnancies in difficult circumstances because “it is their choice.” He notes a similar effect when […]
more on selective reduction
On the Mirror of Justice blog, here is an excellent post by John Breen. http://mirrorofjustice.blogs.com/mirrorofjustice/2011/08/michael-new-selective-reduction-reveals-a-weakness-in-the-armor-of-choice.html Breen focuses on an analysis by Michael New from NRO. Perhaps the concerned reactions of pro-choice advocates to the NY Times story reveal a natural human response to the taking of an innocent human life. Selective reduction, just as did partial birth […]
“No One Dies Alone”
Here is a very encouraging blog post by Wesley Smith reporting on the “No One Dies Alone” program.http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2011/08/27/no-one-dies-alone/ The program relies on volunteers to spend time with and to provide support for patients who would otherwise die alone. What a great form of solidarity and of true compassion. Richard M.
Professor Helen Alvare has posted a blog entry, Uphold Conscience Protection: Religious Freedom’s Contribution to the American Experience and Threats to It, over at Public Discourse on the importance of conscience protections in a variety of settings. Many readers of this blog will recognize the professor from her former work as spokeswoman for Prolife Secretariat […]
For those interested in end-of-life issues and euthanasia, Christian Brugger has an important new post on the Culture of Life blog regarding Physicians’ Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatments. His post is entitled “Legalizing Euthanasia by Omission – And Making It a Doctor’s Order .” Dr. Brugger identifies the primary issue surrounding such documents as: “POLST-type legislation […]