AZ Governor Vetoes Anti-Abortion Fetal Pain Bill

From Daily Kos:

As anti-choice and radical fundamentalists push states further and further back in time with bans on abortion and barriers on a woman's right to choose, we see how important it is to have Democratic governors in place who can stop politically motivated legislation.

Take Arizona, for example, and H.B. 2254. The bill requires doctors to inform a woman seeking an abortion after 20 weeks that the "unborn child" can feel pain. "It is agreed by most scientists that a fetus can feel pain during some portion of the pregnancy," reads the bill. The bill mandates that a doctor tell a woman that the unborn child has the physical structures to feel pain; that as its prodded by instruments, it will draw away in pain; that if she takes pain killers that won't make the pain go away; and that (and the language is priceless here) she has "right to choose to have anesthesia or drugs administered directly to the unborn child."

Not only does a woman have to sit through this lecture, but she has to sign an acknowledgment form. If a doctor fails to inform her about the fetal pain, he can have his license suspended or revoked. There are exceptions for the life and health of the woman.
The state House and Senate approved of the bill. Yesterday, Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed the measure. (article here)
In her brief letter (pdf), she explained her reasons for the veto:
"This bill represents an unwarranted intrusion by politicans into the doctor-patient relationship. The legislature should not attempt to substitute its judgment for that of trained physicians with respect to professional advice given to patients".

Fetal pain bills are the newest tactic of the anti-choice movement, meant to establish fetuses as "unborn children" and meant to psychologically and unduly influence a woman as she makes the decision to terminate a pregnancy. Since 2005, fetal pain measures have been introduced in 23 states. Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota have passed the legislation.
In Wisconsin, a fetal pain bill passed, but was vetoed by Governor Jim Doyle--a Democrat, in January. Like Napolitano, Governor Doyle stated that the bill intrudes on the doctor-patient relationship; he also stated that the research underlying the bill was not proven.

On the national level, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) has introduced S.51, the "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2005." It has 34 Republican co-sponsors.

Having Democratic governors who respect the right to privacy and the doctor-patient relationship is crucial as anti-choice foes step up their state efforts to curtail women's rights. It was Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich who issued an emergency rule a year ago requiring pharmacies to fill birth control and morning-after prescriptions.

Where state legislatures have given in to the anti-choice agenda or where anti-choice activists are affecting women's daily lives, these Democratic Governors--Napolitano, Doyle, Blagojevich, and others--have proven that they are committed to protecting a woman's right to privacy and her right to assert control over her own body.