FLORIDA – One day after the controversial abortion ban called the Heartbeat Protection Act went into effect in Florida, the Agency Health Care Administration issued a set of emergency rules that apply to hospitals and abortion clinics.
The act says a physician may not knowingly perform or induce a termination of pregnancy if the physician determines the gestational age of the unborn baby is more than 6 weeks, except under certain circumstances.
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The rules focus on certain conditions that can happen after the sixth week of pregnancy and can present danger to the health and safety of women and their unborn children.
“Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), ectopic pregnancy, and molar pregnancy are medical conditions that can occur when the gestational age of an unborn child is greater than 6 weeks, and can present an immediate danger to the health, safety, and welfare of women and unborn children in hospitals and abortion clinics if immediate and proper care and treatment is not rendered,” the rule reads.
State health regulators said the rule will involve health care providers to keep and report medical records procedures that will “adequately protect the care and safety of both mothers and their unborn babies during medical emergencies.”
The rules also say treatment of these conditions that result in the unborn baby dying would not be considered an abortion.
Planned Parenthood slammed the emergency rules, saying it only causes “more confusion and chaos” rather than answers in a statement:
The so-called ‘emergency rules’ issued by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) today smack of the same political interference we’ve seen from the Legislature and state leaders. We expect it from politicians but it’s particularly disturbing to see this kind of disinformation coming from a state agency charged with protecting our health.
The fact is, if the State of Florida had these concerns they should have acted on them two years ago when the Legislature passed a 15-week abortion ban. Announcing these rules the day after Florida’s six-week ban went into effect makes it clear that the motivation is political cover for the State, and not protecting public health.
This is just playing politics with executive function. Politicians know how bad this six-week ban is and they know the harm it is causing. They are trying to provide cover for themselves by creating emergency rules based on the worst cases highlighted in the media. This is just further evidence of how much damage these abortion restrictions are doing to Florida patients–and that politicians recognize it. What about other serious conditions not called out in the rule? When will doctors be allowed to treat patients based on their individual health care needs? How many more people need to be in dire medical need before the State allows doctors to exercise their medical judgment and provide patients with the medical care they need?
Today’s announcement has only caused more confusion and chaos when Floridians are hurting and can least afford it. Regardless of your position on abortion, it is undeniable that less than two days into living under a near-total abortion ban we are already seeing the pain and suffering these arbitrary restrictions on access to essential health care can cause. AHCA adding fuel to that fire is reckless and mean-spirited.”
Michelle Quesada, Vice President of Communciation for Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida
How do you feel about the emergency rules? Let us know below. Your response may be featured on a Channel 4 newscast.