Topic: personhood

Medically Necessary Abortion Could Send El Salvadorian Woman To Jail

Medically Necessary Abortion Could Send El Salvadorian Woman To Jail

A 22-year-old El Salvadorian woman only known as Beatriz may go to jail if she chooses to save her own life. According to Amnesty International, Beatriz is 4.5 months pregnant, but doctors discovered that her fetus has anencephaly, meaning it is developing without a brain nor portions of the skull and will not be capable of being carried to term. She needs an abortion, but nobody will perform it nor grant doctors permission to do so. More »

It’s Baaaack: Personhood Mississippi Proposes New Ballot Initiative, Says Voters Were ‘Confused’ Last Time

It's Baaaack: Personhood Mississippi Proposes New Ballot Initiative, Says Voters Were 'Confused' Last Time

Apparently, Personhood is just like the villain in a horror movie franchise. You might think it’s dead, but it’ll keep coming back! The controversial anti-abortion initiative that seeks to legislate life beginning at conception was voted down in Mississippi, one of the most conservative states in the country, in 2011. In fact, the ballot measure wasn’t even close to passing with only 42% of voters in favor. But that hasn’t stopped Personhood Mississippi from bringing the measure back. More »

Catholic Hospital Believes Life Begins At Conception … Except In Cases Of Malpractice

Catholic Hospital Believes Life Begins At Conception ... Except In Cases Of Malpractice

No matter on which side of the personhood issue you fall, Catholic Health Initiatives — the nonprofit behind Colorado’s St. Thomas More Hospital along with about 170 other facilities across the country — does not come across well in this situation. The Catholic hospital chain claims to “nurture the healing ministry of the Church,” guided by “fidelity to the Gospel” and adherence to the ethical and religious directives of the Catholic Church and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But in a malpractice lawsuit involving the death of a pregnant woman carrying twins, CHI’s defense team argues against considering the fetuses as a legal people. More »

What Does Personhood Have To Do With Flood Insurance? Ask Senator Rand Paul

What Does Personhood Have To Do With Flood Insurance? Ask Senator Rand Paul

By now, we all know about the true terror that are Personhood Bills. The controversial pieces of legislation that attempt to say life begins at conception have been voted down in Mississippi and Colorado (twice). But that doesn’t mean that they’re going away. In fact, in a recent profile by The Daily Beast, Personhood USA’s founder Keith Mason says, “Wait and watch us grow. We’re like a weed.”

That’s actually an incredibly apt simile. Personhood initiatives seem to be popping up everywhere, even when they have no business in the current debate. They’re generally accepted to be bad news and yet they just keep coming back.

The latest example of Personhood’s weed-like resilience occurred on the floors of the Senate this week. More »

Science Tells Us How To Have A Healthy Pregnancy; Should The Law Punish Women Who Don’t?

Science Tells Us How To Have A Healthy Pregnancy; Should The Law Punish Women Who Don't?

Everyone agrees that a pregnant woman shouldn’t smoke crack or snort meth, right? And the consensus that they shouldn’t smoke cigarettes or throw back a six-back every night is fairly ironclad, as well. Beyond obviously harmful behaviors like alcohol and drug use, however, things get more complicated. And with good reason: Mothers’ own needs and health must be carefully balanced with the needs and health of potential children they’re carrying. After all, pregnant women aren’t simply baby incubating machines. But try telling that to the state of Alabama. More »