Abortion Revisited

In Judge Weighs Injunction Against Texas Abortion Law, the article explains the current law in Texas as forcing doctors to make a woman who wants an abortion listen to the babies heartbeat and explain the fetus's features. This law was brought upon by a suggestion of women who had abortions and later regretted it. Its meant to change the female's mind and slant her views towards keeping the child. The Daily Texan demonstrates how the debate is pro-republican as Rick Perry brought it into Texas law claiming that the loss of life due to abortion "is a tragedy we must work together to stop". The doctors who refuse to follow these regulations in Texas have very high repercussions for their inaction: they can be charged with fines up to 100,000$, be charged for a criminal misdemeanor, and can face loosing their medical license. The Center for Reproductive Rights is suggesting that this law is actually in violation with doctor-patient confidentiality and essentially unethical.

I find this article very interesting as I do not agree with the law itself. Although I understand that Republican parties and such believers strongly are in support of life and against abortion, I do not think it is constitutional to force someone who is not a government official to conduct their job in a specific manner. Doctors should have the right to dismiss such a law. I am positive that there are doctors in Texas who are Republican and look down upon abortions, but the one's that are less conservative and more liberal might view this as an intrusion and infringement. Furthermore, Perry seems to think that by implementing this law people in Texas will cease to have abortions (that are not caused by rape, incest or deformity). Does that really hold true? I strongly believe that even if abortion was completely illegal in Texas they would travel to where it was illegal and still do it. I just feel in order for Texas to be a part of the USA and follow its Creed of independence, shouldn't doctors have the right to their independence in practice? However, I find its interesting that the group who is opposing the law is actually based from NY- maybe their political stance had an influence on this debate in the first place. I think it would make a more compelling argument if a Texas based clinic was raising the same concerns.

Thus, I essentially find this article worthwhile because it sheds some light on the different dynamics of state and local government on the issue of abortion and private practice.