A member of Syracuse’s Right-to-Life team says the Reproductive Health Act removes too many protections for both mothers and unborn children. State lawmakers and governor Cuomo celebrated the passage and signing of the RHA Tuesday.
But Angela Macri says the law goes above and beyond what was said to be an update to the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.
"What it's actually done is made significant changes in taking out any prospect of protecting any form of life at any stage, now that it's legal up to the birth of the child, if that even happens."
The new law permits abortions after 24 weeks in cases where a woman’s life or health would be threatened by continuing the pregnancy, and at any time if the fetus is not viable and cannot survive outside the womb. Macri is also concerned about provisions that now allow physician assistants, licensed midwives, and licensed nurse practitioners to perform abortions, and no longer require a second doctor to be on hand.
"We don't know what that environment is going to like now that it's open to any health practitioner. But it also takes away that protection if the baby is born in that setting in the process of the abortion, there isn't going to be a second doctor to know how to take care of that infant in that moment in time."
Macri says she and others aren’t entirely discouraged by passage of the RHA. In fact, she says their role is more important than ever.
"We're passionate for these couples that come in that are maybe looking for resources, maybe they're scared and feel abortion is their only option, maybe they're pressured into feeling that's their only option. It's going to be our job to step up even more, make sure all the resources they would ever need are known."
Macri says she wants anyone considering an abortion to make an educated decision not based on fear, economic status, or emotion. Lawmakers also approved the Comprehensive Contraceptive Care Act, which would ensure women have access to affordable contraceptives through their health insurance.
