Representing CMDA of WNY, I submitted three letters to:
US Senator Chuck Schumer
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Representative Brian Higgins
CMDA of WNY wants to express their deep concern for the current lack of federal protections for abortion survivors. Once a baby is born, there is absolutely no doubt that it is a human life that deserves protections from our government equal to those afforded any other newborn child. Currently, babies born alive during botched abortions are often neglected and ultimately die because there is no federal legal requirement that they receive proper medical care.
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act sponsored by Representative Ann Wagner is an important bill that addresses this gap in federal law. It protects mothers while requiring that medical providers give the same care to babies that survive abortion as they would to other babies in need.
It imposes fines and/or jail time on healthcare practitioners and medical employees that fail to admit newborn abortion survivors to the hospital and fail to “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care provider would render to any other child born alive…” It also confirms explicitly that intentional killing of a newborn abortion survivor is murder, and punishable as such.
Please pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires medical providers to provide life-saving care to newborn babies while holding accountable those who fail to do so. I appreciate this opportunity to have my voice heard and look forward to hearing of your support for this important legislation. There is NEVER a good reason to neglect a child and allow them to die.
Debra Minotti RN
CMDA of WNY, Area Director