First: we’re continuing to fight two subjective morality bills that just passed the Senate.
The CAP-written S1367 forces doctors to perform life-saving procedures on aborted and preterm births, even when it is clear resuscitation is futile and no matter the gestational age.
Our professional allies from the OB/GYN community testified that in cases of hopeless miscarriages, “comfort care” is critical: allowing the mother to cradle the dying life in its final moments alleviates intense psychological trauma. This same trauma can be exacerbated by forcing the mother to witness pointless mechanical revival attempts. Read the entire powerful testimony in the attachment, below.
This is a crucial argument we are hoping to emphasize as the bill moves to the House.
If you or anyone you know has a personal story about this and can share it with lawmakers (in private or on the floor), we need you.
Please contact Tory Roberg if you can help: tory@secularaz.org.
Meanwhile, S1439 affects the other end of the life cycle: creating legal escape hatches for health care providers who refuse end-of-life care.
This is a subversive attack on Advance Directives, fueled by religious morality. Organizations like Death With Dignity and Compassion & Choices are already in our corner, but we need your suggestions for other potential allies as well as your personal stories.
Again, please contact Tory above if you can be of any assistance.
Momentum on the ESA bills is temporarily halted as they lack the critical votes to go further. They’re not dead yet, though, so don’t let your guard down. Call your Representatives to urge them to vote no on SB1431 and HB2394.
Finally, our science education license plates bill (H2354) is in committee in the Senate next week. We support this bill because we support science. The Science Education Fund is largely expected to benefit the Arizona Science Center.