Roundup: Debunking Health Care Myths
August 6, 2009 - 11:04am (Print)
CBS News offers a critically important debunking of ten health care reform myths, including that the "House health care bill mandates or encourages euthanasia" and that "health care legislation mandates taxpayer dollars pay for abortions." Instead, CBS explains,
In fact, the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday adopted an amendment, proposed by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), that would prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. The amendment would not allow the federal government to either require or prohibit abortion coverage by private insurers. It requires at least one plan from the federal health insurance exchange in each region of the country to cover abortion, and at least one of the plans to not cover abortion.
"Private health care providers are free to cover abortion, but not with federal funds," reports Dan Gilgoff of U.S. News and World Report. "The public plan would cover abortion, but not with federal funds; a Capitol Hill aide tells me money for abortions would come from what participants pay into the public plan."
On euthanasia, CBS explains,
There is nothing in any health care reform bill before Congress that would require people to "decide how they wish to die." Conservative talking points from activists and legislators, however, would suggest otherwise...In fact, section 1233 of the House bill would allow Medicare for the first time to cover patient-doctor consultations about end-of-life planning, including discussions about drawing up a living will or planning hospice treatment. Patients would, of course, seek out such advice on their own -- they would not be required to. The provision would limit Medicare coverage to one consultation every five years.
Salon offers
its own list of health care myths, and again, explains that on coverage
for abortion,
Pro-choice lawmakers are trying to craft a compromise that would require insurance companies to pay for abortions out of premiums paid by patients, not out of tax dollars. Pro-choice Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., amended the House version of the legislation to state that abortion is not part of an "essential benefits package" that all insurance plans must provide -- meaning someone could offer a special "pro-life health insurance" plan that doesn't cover abortions, even under the reforms.
Dr. LeRoy Carhart Plans to Open Open Kansas Clinic
The Wichita Eagle
reports that Dr. LeRoy Carhart, and women's health and abortion
provider, plans to open a "late-term abortion practice" in Wichita, the
home of late Dr. George Tiller's clinic. Carhart's plans aren't
without controversy: "The anti-abortion group Operation Rescue this
week announced a "Keep It
Closed" campaign targeting Carhart. The group said it would protest at
his Nebraska clinic Aug. 28-29."
Esquire Profiles Dr. Warren Hern
Esquire profiles Boulder-based women's health and abortion provider Dr. Warren Hern. A brief excerpt:
The patients can be upsetting too. They're under terrible stress, of course, but sometimes they come in very angry. One had conjoined twins and would have died giving birth, but she exploded when he told her she couldn't smoke in the office. And some treat him with contempt and disgust, usually the ones who have been directly involved in antiabortion activities. They hate all abortion except for their special case. One even said they should all be killed. Only fourteen, she came with her mother. What brings you here? he asked. I have to have an abortion. Why? I'm not old enough to have a baby. But you told the counselor we should all be killed? Yes, you should all be killed. Why? Because you do abortions.Yes, you should be killed too. Do you want me killed before or after I do your abortion? Before.
Me too?
Other News to Note
August 6: WaPo: Morning Fix: As California Goes. . .
August 6: Catholic Culture: BISHOP OPPOSES CATHOLIC CONGRESSMAN’S BILL TO FUND BIRTH CONTROL
August 6: MovieWeb: Family Guy Cast to Perform a Live Table Reading of Their Abortion Episode
August 6: LA Times: Arlen Specter's challenge
August 5: LifeNews: Obama Vows to Pass Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill, Poll Shows Americans Opposed
August 5: Christian Post: Proportion of 'Pro-Life' Americans Up This Year
August 5: News On 6: Local Lawmakers Against Abortion Provision in Health Care Bill
August 5: Calgary Herald: Teens understand emergency-contraception labels
August 5: AP: Colo. Abortion Doctor Links 'Hate Speech,' Killing
August 6: Healthcare Republic: Lack of contraceptive choice
August 5: LifeNews: Pro-Life Advocates: UN Treaty on Disabled Doesn't Promote Abortion
August 5: NRO: Saletan's Baby, Ctd.
August 5: AM Litigation Daily: Federal Circuit Affirms Invalidity of Bayer Patent on Birth Control Pill
August 4: Kansas City Star: (Letter) Sanger helped women plan families
August 5: Lawyers and Settlements: Oh Yaz, There May be a Problem
August 5: LifeSiteNews: International Groups Pressure Dominican Government to Remove Pro-Life Constitutional Provisions as Final Vote Approaches
August 5: HuffPo: Abortion Coverage Allowed In Health Care Legislation
August 5: LifeNews: Federal Court OKs Law Stopping Pro-Life Pastor Outside Oakland Abortion Center
August 5: Mail Online: Obama's healthcare reforms could result in 'abortion on demand'
August 4: Opposing Views: Pro-Life Groups Must End Abortion Health Care Propaganda
August 5: Times of Malta: Malta's MEPs should defend pro-life values - GOL
August 5: MetroCatholic: Plan B Pill Dangers Further Highlight Safety of NFP
August 5: SFGate: Attitudes shift on abortion, same-sex marriage
August 5: Patriot Ledger: YOUR OPINION: Health reform offensive to abortion foes
August 4: Republican American: Permanent control New birth control gaining popularity
August 4: LifeSiteNews: "Safe Sex" with Condoms Bad for Mental Health, Psych Researcher Finds
August 5: Courier News: Stricter abortion rules in place
In fact, the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday adopted an amendment, proposed by Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), that would prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding abortions.
Let me help explain how untrue this is:
Business A has a $10/year budget that they can direct towards whatever medical care they can (including abortion).
Obama gives them an additional $20/year of our hard earned tax dollars with a stipulation that none of that $20 can be spent directly on abortions.
Business A happily accepts the $20/year and spends it entirely on everything but abortions and then spends the $10/year they have normally to provide abortions.
Business A has increased spending on abortion due to the influx of tax dollars.
Abortions will be funded.
Case closed.
But Brian, you've forgotten that the extra $20 may well be used to fund non-abortion health care for X number of additional women. In other words, MORE women will have access to affordable services. So I'm still not following.
That extra care comes at the expense of increasing funding for abortions with tax dollars (by freeing other dollars to be spent on abortions). That's the whole point. Many American's do not want their tax dollars to be used to increase spending on abortions. By giving our tax dollars to organizations that provide abortions those organizations are able to increase spending on abortions.
This makes no sense. "Other dollars" are voluntary contributions.
You know I'm sick of all the whining about abortion. Right now a woman's choice to have an abortion is LEGAL. If you don't want one don't get one. No person should tell anyone what they can or can not do with their own body. As for tax dollars being spent, the majority of American's didn't want their tax dollars funding this ridiculous war that who knows when it will end. The money we've spent on that could have covered health care reform 5 times over.
I don't understand if one wants abortion, then why don't they take precautions before that.
