The Hindu : International : Anti-abortion clause approved

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 25, 2004

International

International

Anti-abortion clause approved

Washington: America's religious Right has scored its first legislative victory since the President, George Bush's re-election by inserting a clause into a spending bill to undermine state laws requiring hospitals to provide abortions. The provision, a last-minute addition to a $388-billion budget bill, was approved by Congress without debate at the weekend in one of its last acts of this legislative session. It is expected soon to be signed into law by Mr. Bush. The passage of the bill caps a two-year campaign by Catholic Bishops and anti-abortion organisations to give legal cover to hospitals that refuse to perform terminations, or to even refer women to abortion providers. Women's activists fear that the sweeping language in the provision will discourage hospitals from providing information on abortion services. The measure is the first of several provisions seeking to restrict abortion rights, due before Congress in the New Year. Among them is a measure that would require doctors to lecture patients on the pain felt by the foetus during an abortion, although scientists have not established whether a foetus does feel pain. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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