Post by Logan on Mar 28, 2016 21:57:00 GMT -6
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The governor signed a bill Monday that makes Utah the first state to require doctors to give anesthesia to women having an abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later.
The bill signed by Republican Gov. Gary Herbert is based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain at that point.
Many doctors in Utah and across the country are concerned that the requirement could increase the health risks to women by giving them unnecessary heavy sedation in order to protect a fetus from pain that it may or may not feel.
Dr. Sean Esplin of Intermountain Healthcare in Utah said anesthesia or an analgesic would need to go through the woman in order to reach the fetus. Doctors could give a woman general anesthesia, which would make her unconscious and likely require a breathing tube, or a heavy dose of narcotics.
Read more: www.jsonline.com/news/usandworld/national/utah-governor-signs-bill-requiring-abortion-anesthesia-mjsurnpublicidaporgdb360dd2f6864af0bd204caba3-373790591.html
The bill signed by Republican Gov. Gary Herbert is based on the disputed premise that a fetus can feel pain at that point.
Many doctors in Utah and across the country are concerned that the requirement could increase the health risks to women by giving them unnecessary heavy sedation in order to protect a fetus from pain that it may or may not feel.
Dr. Sean Esplin of Intermountain Healthcare in Utah said anesthesia or an analgesic would need to go through the woman in order to reach the fetus. Doctors could give a woman general anesthesia, which would make her unconscious and likely require a breathing tube, or a heavy dose of narcotics.
Read more: www.jsonline.com/news/usandworld/national/utah-governor-signs-bill-requiring-abortion-anesthesia-mjsurnpublicidaporgdb360dd2f6864af0bd204caba3-373790591.html