I am writing to express my strong opposition to House Resolution 722, which seeks to extend equal protection under the 14th Amendment to unborn children. While I respect the intention to protect life, this legislation raises significant ethical, legal, and practical concerns that cannot be overlooked.
Legal and Practical Concerns
1. Criminalization of Pregnancy Outcomes: HR 722 risks subjecting women who experience pregnancy loss to legal scrutiny, even when miscarriages are medically unavoidable. This would add unnecessary trauma to already devastating circumstances.
2. Impact on Healthcare Professionals: The bill could create undue pressure on doctors, forcing them to prioritize legal concerns over medical judgment. This may lead to delayed or inadequate care, putting both pregnant individuals and their unborn children at greater risk.
3. Reduction in Access to Care: Fear of legal consequences may deter medical professionals from practicing in fields like obstetrics and gynecology, exacerbating the existing shortage of maternal healthcare providers, particularly in underserved areas.
Social and Ethical Implications
1. Disproportionate Impact on Marginalized Communities: Historically, laws that criminalize or heavily regulate pregnancy outcomes have disproportionately harmed low-income individuals and people of color, who already face systemic barriers to healthcare access.
2. Erosion of Reproductive Rights: This legislation could fundamentally undermine reproductive freedom, setting a dangerous precedent for further restrictions on personal autonomy and medical decision-making.
3. Public Health Risks: By discouraging open dialogue and access to care, HR 722 could contribute to higher rates of unsafe abortions, worsened maternal outcomes, and reluctance among pregnant individuals to seek medical assistance for fear of legal repercussions.
4. Unjust Scrutiny of Pregnancy Loss: Miscarriage is a heartbreak no one ever anticipates. HR 722 risks turning this tragedy into a legal investigation, casting suspicion on grieving women who have done nothing wrong. We cannot afford to make women feel like suspects during one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.
Call to Action
I urge you to reconsider the broader implications of HR 722 and reject this bill. While we all value the sanctity of life, policies must balance compassion, public health, and individual freedoms. Legislation should aim to support pregnant individuals and families through access to healthcare, education, and resources—not by creating fear, punishment, and division.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns. I hope you will work to ensure that all legislation respects and protects the dignity, rights, and well-being of every person.
First sent on January 27 by Elizabeth
