August 14, 2009
Commentary: Abortion should not be part of health care reform
By EMILY SNIPES (Catholic Charities)
In July House Democratic leaders introduced H.R. 3200 “America’s Affordable Health Choice Act of 2009.” Since then a wave of discussion has started over issues such as abortion, end of life issues and conscience rights. If you are anything like me you’ve probably had more questions than answers regarding the current bills. With all the available media outlets and a public debate swirling, it’s hard to decipher what information is correct and how exactly it affects you. Now that Congress is in recess we all have the opportunity to educate ourselves on the bills in question and voice our opinion.
I think most of you will agree that health care is a basic right that should be available to all. Very few would disagree that there are issues with our current system and that we have too many uninsured people in the U.S. However, there are sticking points in the proposed bills which have caused a lot of media attention on both sides of the political lines and within the Catholic Church.
Once again our Catholic Church has come under fire for following the social teaching of the Church. Many see our opposition to legislation that will incorporate expansive pro-abortion provisions as being against health care reform, which is simply untrue. Bishop Willliam Murphy, speaking for the USCCB, indicated Church support for reform based on the respect for the life and dignity of all people from conception until natural death. He also drew a line, declaring “no health care reform plan should compel us or others to pay for the destruction of human life whether through government funding or mandatory coverage of abortion.”
Cardinal Justin Rigali, chair-man of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, stated, “The USCCB is working to ensure that the needed health reform is not undermined by abandoning longstanding and widely supported policies ag-ainst abortion funding and mandates and in favor of conscience protection.”
Here are a few key points within the proposed health care that is being debated:
As currently written, both the Senate and House health care bills would allow federal officials to require the inclusion of abortion coverage in virtually all health plans, as well as taxpayer funding of abortions, and would expand the number of abortion providers. Abortion services have been defined by legislatures and courts as being included in the term “essential health care.” Because abortion would be “essential,” it would be necessary to provide access to abortion, thereby mandating subsidizing the practice with taxpayer monies and increasing the number of abortionists and opening more abortion facilities in areas of the country that now do not have them. Catholic health-care professionals would be required to participate in abortions or run the risk of being charged with “patient abandonment,” which could mean the loss of their license to practice.
A provision of the health-care bills establishes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Qual-ity which would do comparative effectiveness research — it would determine the most cost-effective treatment for a specific medical condition and would override the doctor’s decision for his patient. President Obama said recently that “the chronically ill and those toward the end of their lives are accounting for 80 percent of the total health care bill.”
Under the current health-care reform bills, there is no conscience clause allowing an individual or an organization with a religious affiliation to opt out of health plans that include an abortion component. The Senate bill contains a very weak conscience clause for those religions that, as a tenet of their faith, do not seek medical care (they would not be required to carry insurance coverage). Catholic institutions and organizations with Catholic affiliations would be forced to offer abortion coverage in their employee health insurance package.
The Senate health care bill contains a hidden provision that matches the provisions of the Freedom of Choice Act; it would preempt any state law hindering a woman’s access to “essential health services” — a phrase that includes abortion services.
The House version of the health care bill creates an “Ad-vance Care Planning Consul-tation” for Medicare patients to be counseled on end-of-life decisions. Such consultations would take place every five years or more frequently if there was a significant change in the individual’s health. This provision could create a slippery slope for a more permissive environment for euthanasia, mercy-killing and physician-assisted suicide because it does not clearly exclude counseling about the supposed benefits of killing oneself. (sources www.lifesitenews.com and the USCCB)
I am disappointed and disturbed by what I’ve learned. To be honest I have not read the 1,000 plus page bill, but neither has our president and most of Congress. In my opinion health care should exist to protect and serve human life, not destroy it. When it seeks only to end lives in one form or another instead of working to maintain and extend life, it’s really no longer health care.
When I read that chronically and terminally ill people (which could include children with special needs) may be denied life-sustaining measures and basic medical treatments, because a government research committee may determine it isn’t cost effective given their diagnosis or life expectancy, I get angry.
Five years ago I was in a car accident that nearly took my life. I’ve had over 29 surgeries and it has taken years of physical therapy to regain my health and quality of life. During that time I had the choice to venture out of network and travel as far as Houston, Texas, to be treated by a specialist. I was fortunate enough to have good insurance, excellent medical care and a lot of prayers. Because of that support I was able to far exceed the initial progress and expectations doctors gave me.
The idea that my health care coverage could have deemed me not to be worthy of treatment is frightening. In my opinion the government is trying to play God with our health. When I think about the way family members and friends could be affected, it is difficult to understand how anyone would find this type of care acceptable. A diagnosis or prognosis doesn’t lessen our inherent worth or dignity. If all humans are created equal, why would our health care discriminate based on what is nothing than a label?
Most people look at issues and get involved when they connect on a personal level. Catholics should realize that in its current state this health care bill does not follow social teaching. Let’s face it, the main reason why FOCA was not reintroduced was due to you. After the USCCB organized a national campaign in January aimed to discourage senators and representatives from allowing this pro-choice bill to be signed into law, Catholic’s responded by getting involved and their voices were heard.
Although FOCA is currently off the table, there are central provisions of it that have made their way into the health care reform bills. Once again you can get involved by contacting your local representative and senators and insisting that Congress do a better job of advancing health care reform that respects human life, not health care that treats humans as a commodity. As always continue to pray for our nation and our leaders.
For more information or to contact Congress visit The National Committee for a Human Life Amendment at www.nchla.org.