The bill brings about long-overdue reform and regulation of the abortion industry. This law also is needed to prevent women from being coerced into abortions, to end the reprehensible practice of disposing of the bodies of aborted babies in garbage cans and to avoid the chemical abortion drug RU-486 from being dispensed via the Internet. The law amends the Michigan Public Health Code to bring about these reforms.
Recent events reinforce the need for regulation. There have been several instances of aborted babies’ bodies being found in common trash bins. A 52-page report compiled by Right to Life of Michigan used state documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act to reveal a pattern of deeply entrenched illegal and unethical practices throughout Michigan’s abortion industry. The fact that 28 of 32 abortion clinics in Michigan are unlicensed and have not been inspected shows the absence of any meaningful regulation.....
Characterizations of H.B. 5711 as a regressive attack on women’s rights are disconnected from the reality of the new law. Similar regulations were implemented during 2012 in Maryland and Pennsylvania, with none of the dire consequences that are being predicted for Michigan.
FULL EDITORIAL
