From: The Pro-Life Infonet <infonet@prolifeinfo.org> Reply-To: Steven Ertelt <infonet@prolifeinfo.org> Subject: U.S. House Cmte Will Hold Hearing on Born-Alive Infants Protection Act Source: Concerned Women for America; July 11, 2001 U.S. House Cmte Will Hold Hearing on Born-Alive Infants Protection Act Washington, D.C. -- On July 12, 2001, Jill Stanek will testify at a congressional hearing on the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2001 (H.R. 2175). Mrs. Stanek, a nurse at Christ Hospital in Illinois, will recount how hospital personnel deliberately allow premature babies who survive induced labor to die, a procedure known as live birth abortion. The hospital has put Mrs. Stanek on probation for her public criticism of its practices, but she continues to testify on these inhumane practices. Mrs. Stanek, who held one of these babies for 45 minutes before he died, has worked with Concerned Women for America (CWA) to introduce the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act. This legislation, which states that babies born alive are persons with legal rights, is sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Rep. Sue Myrick (R-North Carolina) and Rep. Melissa Hart (R-Pennsylvania). "It is clear to all, except the most extreme and those who profit from it, that live-birth abortions are murder. Wearing a white coat does not give a person carte blanche to kill the helpless," said Wendy Wright, Director of Communications at Concerned Women for America. Mrs. Stanek fears that live-birth abortion has become common practice. In fact, medical instruction on second-trimester labor induction refers to live births as a possible complication. She also fears for the future of medical ethics. "If we all cannot at least agree that civil rights begin at birth, then we will have to initiate the debate as to when after delivery a living person does begin to have rights, and A Pandora's Box will have been opened, the depths of which no one can possibly ascertain today," she said. In June, the Senate voted, 98-0, in favor of Sen. Rick Santorum's (R-Pennsylvania) Born Alive Infant Protection amendment to the Patient's Bill of Rights. Last year, the House of Representatives passed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, 385-15. House Subcommittee on the Constitution Testimony from Jill Stanek Thursday, July 12, 2001, 1:00 p.m. 2226 Rayburn Building -- The Pro-Life Infonet is a daily compilation of pro-life news and information. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe" to: infonet-request@prolifeinfo.org. Infonet is sponsored by Women and Children First (http://www.womenandchildrenfirst.org). For more pro-life info visit http://www.prolifeinfo.org and for questions or additional information email ertelt@prolifeinfo.org |