Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Perspectives: Laws To Force Unwanted, Dangerous Pregnancies Are Immoral; Talking About Miscarriage Helps Break Shame
The New York Times: I Shouldn’t Be Forced To Give Birth To A Baby Who Won’t Live
When I was 20 weeks pregnant, I and my husband learned during a routine ultrasound that our baby had not developed a major portion of her brain and never would. The condition, anencephaly, a type of neural tube defect that also stunts the growth of the skull, is terminal. If carried to term, our baby would be very unlikely to survive for more than a few hours. One in 1,000 fetuses have this condition. We had no warning signs. No indications. (Sarah E. Levin, 7/3)
The Washington Post: Leana Wen: My Miscarriage Has Made My Commitment To Women’s Health Even Stronger
The turkey sandwich I always had for lunch tasted different. My colleague’s perfume was suddenly overpowering. I could hardly keep awake; when I slept, I had leg cramps and vivid dreams. I knew before I took the test: I was pregnant.I was thrilled. My husband and I had been trying for months. We wanted another child, a sibling for our son, Eli, now almost 2. I’m 36; my husband is 44; we didn’t want to wait much longer. Though I worried about how I would do my demanding job with two small children, I also believed that fulfilling my deep desire to expand our family would send a strong message for the organization I represent: We support all people in their decisions when and whether to become parents. (Leana Wen, 7/6)
St. Louis Post Dispatch: The Conundrum Behind Legislating Unborn Personhood
There are serious inconsistencies within Missouri’s newest abortion law, House Bill 126. Its preamble cites the Missouri Constitution, which “provides that all persons have a natural right to life.” Left unmentioned from Missouri’s Constitution is “that all persons are created equal and are entitled to equal rights.” But acknowledging this entails that all persons have an equal natural right to life. (William Ash, 7/6)
