Fetal Pain? ?

[John]

Abortion rights group opposed to fetal pain bill
6/14/2006, 2:49 p.m. CT
The Associated Press



BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Abortion doctors must discuss the availability of painkillers for fetuses with patients about to undergo the procedure, a Senate panel decided Wednesday, overriding complaints from opponents who said scientists haven't determined that fetuses can feel pain.

Rep. A.G. Crowe, R-Slidell, sponsored the measure that would force doctors to inform a patient — at least one day before she has an abortion — that drugs exist to relieve pain to the fetus that "could be caused by the particular method of abortion to be employed."

The measure includes no penalties for doctors who do not comply.

Opponents include Planned Parenthood of Louisiana and the American Civil Liberties Union, whose representatives testified that the bill is based on shaky science. J. Michael Malec, an ACLU lobbyist, told committee members that scientists have not established that fetuses are developed enough to experience physical pain.

Malec also said the bill, if it becomes law, would be an intrusion by the state into a doctor's relationship with his patient.

"To tell doctors what to tell their patients is not reasonable, and it's not the function of the Legislature," he said.

The Senate's health committee approved the measure with a vote of 3-2, sending it to the Senate floor.

The two female members of the panel voted against the measure: Sens. Sherri Cheek, R-Keithville, and Diana Bajoie, D-New Orleans. Voting in favor were Sens. Nick Gautreaux, D-Meaux, Tom Schedler, R-Mandeville, and Joe McPherson, D-Woodworth.

___