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When Considering Abortion Require In-Person Informed Consent Between Patient and Medical Provider: SUPPORT SB 179

March 10 - It appears that the House was unwilling to move this to a friendly committee or force a hearing in the Health and Welfare committee. So a discharge petition has been filed to bring the bill to the floor for a vote. This is usually a desperate effort and fails. With only one, maybe two days left, there is still time for this to pass, though it is unlikely. The Catholic Conference of Kentucky regrets that lawmakers do not consider a woman's need to receive proper information in a face to face encounter with a medical provider when she is considering an abortion important enough to allow SB 179 a fair hearing in a committee and a vote on the HOUSE floor. Click on to send a message. Or use the phone number below to urge your State Representative to support this bill.

March 5 - SB 179 is now in the House Health and Welfare committee. Not a friendly committee, there are efforts to move it to another committee, but so far we have not succeeded in getting that done. Please click on the Take Action button below to urge support. If SB 179 is moved, the alert will be revised to reflect that. Still, it is important that your State Representative hear from you NOW.

Action - Click on to urge your State Representative to support SB 179 or call the message line below to leave a message.

MESSAGE LINE: 1-800-372-7181- EN ESPAÑOL 1-877-739-5556

Talking Points: SB 179

SB 179 - K. Stine, D. Thayer, D. Boswell, D. Roeding, D. Seum, G. Tapp, E. Tori, J. Westwood

Reasons for supporting SB 179

Before making a medical decision, a person has the right to know the risks and options available.

A woman's access to detailed health related information and life-affirming options to abortion is best provided in-person where questions can be asked and the specific situation of the woman can be considered by a medical professional.

This law will better protect the rights of women in the process of making a decision that is not reversible. It may reduce the number of babies being aborted and the post-abortion trauma that we know to be sadly real for some women.

In-person communication with a physician is viewed as critical in many circumstances. The KY Board of Medical Licensure said in its Fall 2004 Newsletter:

Consumers obtaining prescriptions, medications, and/or medical treatment from Internet web sites without an adequate evaluation by a physician pose an immediate threat to the public health and safety….The Board feels a valid physician/patient relationship cannot be established without an initial face-to-face evaluation by a health care professional.

Human life is a gift from God, sacred and inviolable. Because every human person is created in the image and likeness of God, we have a duty to defend human life from conception until natural death and in every condition. SB --- helps fulfill the duty to defend human life.

Kentucky’s bishops sponsor several ministry programs addressing the needs of women and their families when faced with untimely pregnancy. Opportunities For Life is a pregnancy information hotline available 24-hours seven days a week (English: 800-822-5824; Spanish: 800-860-7165). Project Rachel is a pastoral outreach program for those dealing with grief associated following an abortion. Assistance is available from priests, counselors and post-abortion support groups. Catholic Charities and Catholic Social Services offices across the state offer adoption services and counseling. Links to Diocesan websites are found here.