House To Vote On Fetal Pain Bill Wednesday; NARAL Pro-Choice America Takes Neutral Stance On Measure

December 7, 2006 – 7:01 pm | posted in Pain / Anesthetics, Pregnancy, Women's Health / OBGYN

House Republican leaders have scheduled a vote Wednesday on a bill (HR 6099) that would require women seeking abortions to be offered an anesthetic for the fetus and told there is evidence the procedure can cause fetal pain, the Washington Post reports (Weisman, Washington Post, 12/5). The legislation — sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) — would require HHS to create a brochure stating “that there is substantial evidence that the process of being killed in an abortion will cause the unborn child pain.” According to the measure, abortion providers would be required to give the brochure and offer anesthesia to all women seeking abortions of a “pain-capable unborn child” — defined in the legislation as fetuses of at least 20 weeks gestation. The woman could accept or reject the anesthesia by signing a form. According to Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, the group wants a House vote to measure the amount of support for the bill (Kaiser Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, 12/1). Democratic leaders in the House have called Wednesday’s decision “a vote of conscience” and said they will not attempt to sway the outcome, the Post reports. House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) does not plan to speak during debate on the measure, according to the Post. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the National Abortion Federation oppose the legislation, but NARAL Pro-Choice America has taken a neutral stance on the measure. “Pro-choice Americans have always believed that women deserve access to all the information relevant to their reproductive health decisions,” NARAL Pro-Choice America President Nancy Keenan in a statement said, adding, “For some women, that includes information related to fetal anesthesia options.” According to the Post, House Republicans are using expedited procedures to bring the bill to a vote, which means it will take a two-thirds vote to pass. If the bill passes the House, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) will attempt to pass it in the Senate by a unanimous voice vote, the Post reports (Washington Post, 12/5).