After Massachusetts government health authorities recently issued a ban on all “nonessential elective surgeries” to throttle the burden on hospitals amid the coronavirus, authorities have now clarified that abortions are exempt from these restrictions.
MassLive reports:
Abortions do not fit that definition, according to the guidance.
The memo sent by Elizabeth Kelley, director of the state’s Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, states, “Terminating a pregnancy is not considered a nonessential, elective invasive procedure for the purpose of this guidance. However, the ultimate decision is based on clinical judgment by the caring physician.”
The health department recommends that providers at each hospital or surgery center use their clinical judgment on a case by case basis “regarding any invasive procedures that must be done to preserve the patient’s life and health.”
Some of the procedures included in the ban are:
- Any procedures involving skin incision
- Injections of any substance into a joint space or body cavity
- Orthopedic procedures, such as a hip replacement or knee replacement
- Colonoscopies, bronchoscopies, kidney tube placements and other endoscopic procedures
- Invasive radiology procedures
- Most dermatology procedures
- Invasive ophthalmic procedures, including “miscellaneous procedures” involving eye implants
- Tooth extractions and other oral procedures
- Podiatric procedures such as removing an ingrown toenail
- Skin or wound debridement
- Sound wave treatment to break down kidney stones
- Gynecological exams and/or endometrial biopsy
Massachusetts’ pro-abortion groups were thrilled to find there would be no pause in so-called “reproductive health services.”
“@MassGovernor rightly made clear that a temporary ban on elective medical procedures DOES NOT apply to abortion,” reads a tweet from Planned Parenthood Massachusetts sharing the news. “As we fight #COVID19, we must ensure continued access to reproductive health care, including abortion.”
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts released a statement on Tuesday hinting that the administration of Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican in favor of legal abortion, included the exemption at the request of abortion advocates.
“We thank the Baker Administration for working to preserve continued access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care during this unprecedented public health crisis,” the NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts statement says. “…Reproductive health care decisions are time-sensitive and patients need speedy access to care. We recognize the intense strain COVID-19 has put and will continue to put on the healthcare system and we are grateful to the Administration for listening to our concerns and recognizing the unique impact of COVID-19 on maintaining access to reproductive health care.”
“Planned Parenthood’s priority is to keep killing babies even when the whole world is focused on saving as many lives as possible right now,” Andrew Beckwith, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, told the New Boston Post, “They’ve even managed to convince the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to prioritize elective abortions during the current health crisis.”
What a heartbreaking state of affairs. As our nation fights to preserve human life, politicians and activists fight to continue to terminate life, even amid such a crisis as a global pandemic.
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