Group: Law could mean death penalty for doctors

[Judi Lynn]

Aug. 29, 2005, 5:15PM

Group: Law could mean death penalty for doctors
Associated Press

AUSTIN — Texas doctors who perform abortions without parental approval or after the third trimester could face capital murder charges because of a new law that takes effect this week, a prosecutors group says.

The Texas District and County Attorneys Association has outlined that scenario in its new book updating the Texas penal code and in public presentations around the state. The group says such charges could occur under the new law because of the 2003 fetal protection law. But key legislators said today that wasn't their intent.

Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, who pushed the parental consent measure, said in a prepared statement that her legislation was strictly limited to giving parents the right to consent when a minor is considering an abortion and to preventing late-term abortions.

"There were no discussions about the death penalty during our legislative discussions of this issue, so that was certainly not the intent," Nelson said.

A capital murder conviction can result in the death penalty.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3330041
(Free registration required)

[punpirate]

1. And, I'm to believe that a Texas Republican...

... just didn't mean it?

They really do think we're stupid. They really do. *sigh*

[Hekate]

2. Doesn't matter how many times you give the facts...

...how tiny a number of late term abortions there are, how late term abortions are due to medical tragedies, how it is risky to the mother after the fetal bones have begun to harden anyway. It does not matter what the facts are -- for instance that Roe allows for the restriction of abortions after the first trimester, always has.

Nossirree bob, the only thing that matters is demonizing women and doctors, making abortions impossible to obtain regardless, and picturing women as stupid cows likely to wake up one fine morning saying "Gee it's my 8th month. Think I'll off the kid today."

:argh:

Hekate

#Why won't the Chickenhawk cross the road?#

[Samurai_Writer]

3. What I want to know...

How can a doctor perform an abortion AFTER the third trimester? I don't think there's a FOURTH trimester. Stupid journalists who can't even write.

And of COURSE they knew what the law stated... they wrote it! It is EXACTLY what they intended... to scare doctors away from doing ANY abortions, period.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. the douglas adams skule of counting

if the topic weren't so serious, I'd be joking about it.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. ...or the Monty Python School of Counting...

One...two...five!

[tavalon]

12. Within the third trimester

That is 24 weeks and beyond. And, every single thing that Hekate just mentioned is completely true.

[Drifter]

4. Meanwhile ...

those who perform back alley abortions (which will become popular again when doctors stop performing abortions) will not be prosecuted when the mother dies.

Cheers
Drifter

[truthisfreedom]

6. exactly. thugs love to conveniently forget about back-alley abortions

and how hard women fought the last time around to stop the death and destruction.

[fasttense]

7. So what charges are they going to bring against the women and girls?

shouldn't those formerly pregnant women and girls be charged as adults for murder? But of course there are other ways to get abortions. If a woman believes she needs to get an abortion, she will find a way to do it whether the government provides a safe method or not. Women have been having abortions for 100s of years without the government's consent. So what are they going to do about those women who don't take to forced motherhood and survive the back alley, the rusty coat hanger, or the trip down the stairs? Shouldn't all pregnant women be monitored to prevent them from having abortions? It is the only logical conclusion to such laws.

When will societies learn they can't control everything a woman does?

[ChrisK]

9. If they really did "forget" couldn't they just vote to omit it?

I mean there acting like its written in stone and they can't re-vote on this issues and remove the clause for the death sentence...but I have a feeling they will "forget" they can do that too.

So now in Texas a doctor, who saves peoples lives, will be put to death for preforming an abortion that normally occurs because there is something wrong with the fetus she is carring and it is shown to be dangerous to the mother to continue to carry the fetus? Good move Texas legislators.

One question...Why do man have any say in a womans issues? It's not like we man will become pregnant right, so why do we even have a say in what happens to a womans body? Just wondering.

[atommom]

10. Handmaid's Tale, here we come.

[Patiod]

11. WIll this apply to those who supply RU-486?

If a minor were to get ahold of RU-486 without parental permission, could the person from whom she obtained it get the death penalty?

[Demeter]

13. Ru 486 Not Effective After a Few Weeks

the issue doesn't arise.

[iamjoy]

14. New Law Could Mean Death Penalty For Doctors (Hous. Chron)

SNIP
Texas doctors who perform abortions without parental approval or after the third trimester could face capital murder charges because of a new law that takes effect this week, a prosecutors group says

The Texas District and County Attorneys Association has outlined that scenario in its new book updating the Texas penal code and in public presentations around the state. The group says such charges could occur under the new law because of the 2003 fetal protection law.

Key legislators said Monday that wasn't their intent.

A capital murder conviction can result in the death penalty

END SNIP

Not their intent? Oh, sure and how about some beach front property in Kansas?


:scared:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/metropolitan/3330600

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. So, if the father of the baby also happens to be the father of the mother,

nobody gives a flying fuck?