Government Healthcare and Abortions

[Lately there has been a lot of talk about government run healthcare in America. Of course this is quite reasonable due to the recent push by the Obama administration, and many members of congress, to transform our medical system into one that is more "progressive" and similar to the socialized European model. Rightly, many of those who oppose this have pointed out that there will be a reduction in the quality of care that we currently enjoy (which has occurred in Canada and Europe), and that the burden to taxpayers will be massive.

One thing that I haven't heard much about is the effect that government healthcare will have on abortions in America. The following letter was written to members of Congress from the CMDA (Christian Medical & Dental Association). They are urging members of Congress to use "explicit language to prohibit funding for abortions".

With all the issues surrounding this debate one thing that we must understand is that a government controlled healthcare system will have long ranging consequences. Particularly on the unborn.]

CMDA Letter to Members of Congress

Dear Member of Congress:

The health care restructuring bills released to date pose a grave danger to the unborn. At a time when many are calling for common ground on abortion, it should be clear that no health care package can engender broad support unless the text clearly excludes abortion from any taxpayer-subsidized or government-mandated benefits package.

Excluding abortion from public funding is true common ground that all Americans can support. Recent polling data indicate that Americans increasingly identify themselves as pro-life and that a strong majority, as high as 70%, oppose public funding for abortion.

If the President’s goal is to reduce the number of abortions, it should be noted that advocates for and against abortion agree that public funding bans save lives by reducing abortion. Even the pro-abortion Alan Guttmacher Institute routinely issues papers indicating that when publicly funded abortions are not available, women are less likely to obtain an abortion.

Yet the draft proposals go even further than just funding abortion with taxpayers’ dollars. The proposals ensure that every American will eventually be in a plan that includes abortion: the bills require individuals to buy health insurance that meets certain minimum benefits standards – standards to be determined by the Secretary of HHS. History has shown that if the law does not clearly state that abortion is excluded, government agencies and the courts will mandate that abortion be a required benefit.

Also, the draft proposals fall far short of protecting doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who, for reasons of grave moral concerns, decline to perform or refer for abortions or other medical procedures. Catholic hospitals make up 15-20% of all hospitals in the country. If they are forced to perform abortions under the new government healthcare plan, it is possible that many would close their doors rather than violate the ethical and religious directives of their church. Strong, clear protections for private conscience must be included in any healthcare legislation.

Even if the word abortion does not appear in the bill text, abortion will be construed to be a required benefit if it is not excluded. The National Abortion Federation supports “health care reform as a way to increase access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion care.” The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Health says, “Let there be no mistake, basic healthcare includes abortion services.” Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, says “(I)f, indeed, we can advance a panel or commission, then I am very optimistic about reproductive health care being part of this entire package.”

If any of the proposed plans move forward without explicit language ensuring that abortion is excluded from any government-mandated or taxpayer-subsidized benefits, health care reform will be a death sentence for thousands of unborn children. Therefore, we urge you to oppose any health care proposal that does not permanently and explicitly state that abortion will never be included in any government mandated or taxpayer funded health plan.

The unborn and their mothers deserve better than abortion. There are always two patients, mother and baby. America deserves a health care system that respects, protects, and cherishes both.