Author: Jerry Cox

New Pro-Life Laws Spark Rule Change at Health Department

Recently the Arkansas Department of Health announced proposed changes to rules and regulations governing reporting requirements for abortion providers.

Under Arkansas law, doctors who perform abortions must report to the Health Department basic information such as the probable age of each unborn child aborted; the race, age, and marital status of the mother; and so on.

Arkansas’ new Woman’s  Right to Know Act of 2015 requires abortion providers to report to the Health Department the number of informed consent certifications received each month. That means the doctor must file a report with the Department of Health each month stating how many women gave their informed consent to having an abortion that month.

This kind of reporting seems mundane, but in fact it helps ensure Arkansas’ laws are being followed.

Arkansas has what may be the strongest informed-consent law for abortion in the country. The law ensures women are given as much information as possible about abortion, its risks, and its alternatives–as well as 48 hours to think things over–before having an abortion.

If a woman decides to go through with the procedure, she must sign a statement giving her informed consent to the abortion. That is what is reflected in these monthly reports.

The proposed changes to the rules and regulations are extremely brief, but they help provide oversight to ensure Arkansas’ informed-consent laws are being honored.

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Judge Forces State to Continue Funds to Planned Parenthood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 2, 2015

LITTLE ROCK—On Friday U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued a preliminary injunction forcing the State of Arkansas to continue Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Arkansans have made it clear time and again they do not want public dollars subsidizing abortions. The Arkansas Legislature has taken steps to prevent public funding of abortion providers. Governor Hutchinson’s decision to cut ties with Planned Parenthood is in keeping with that sentiment. Judge Baker’s injunction forces the state to do something voters don’t want to do, and that is award public dollars to an abortion provider.”

Cox noted the Governor’s decision to halt Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood came on the heels of a series of undercover videos in which Planned Parenthood officials allegedly discuss the sale of organs harvested from aborted babies. “Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s CEO was brought in to testify before members of Congress this week about her organization’s practices. Many are speculating that Planned Parenthood affiliates may be breaking federal laws against trafficking in human organs. And it’s worth noting that recent polling by CNN shows most Americans believe abortion ought to be illegal in all but a few cases. In light of all of this, it’s understandable the State of Arkansas would have reservations about distributing public dollars to Planned Parenthood.”

Cox pointed out there is no shortage of healthcare clinics available for women and families in Arkansas. “I hear people ask what women would do if not for Planned Parenthood. There are more than one hundred seventy clinics in Arkansas able to serve low-income women. Many of these clinics offer services Planned Parenthood affiliates do not, and to my knowledge none of them has been accused to selling baby parts.”

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