Wednesday, March 4, 2009
News Georgia's 'Octomom' legislation?
Posted by Thomas Wheatley @thomaswheatley on Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 11:10 PM
There's nothing new about Georgia lawmakers meddling in women's choices about what they do with their bodies.
In fact, a legislative session doesn't really feel like a legislative session if one or two of the Gold Dome's resident Bible-beaters don't propose legislation that would ban abortion or exempt fetuses (feti?) from paying property taxes. These proposals usually don't generate much attention because they usually don't go anywhere.
But two pieces of state legislation have bucked that trend and are generating an interest under the Gold Dome. The first, called the "Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act," is co-sponsored by some of the state Senate's biggest names and would limit the number of eggs that could be fertilized and implanted in a woman. The other, which would create a legal mechanism to adopt an embryo, is penned by state Rep. James Mills, R-Gainesville.
This time, state lawmakers have a news story on which to peg these bills. Yep, Nadya Suleman, alleged Angelina Jolie-wannabe and mother of 14 more commonly known as "Octomom." Some folks are concerned these bills could have far-reaching implications — and just might have legs.
Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal covered the Senate bill, calling it "the most sweeping state legislation of its kind introduced" in the wake of the Octomom case.
Interest groups at the Gold Dome are concerned because anti-abortion group Georgia Right to Life asked lawmakers to carry the bill. The bill supposedly contains broad language that could impact abortions, stem-cell research and fertility treatments for the 99.9999 percent of the world unlike OctoMom.
Regardless, state Sen. Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull, put the bill in his chic organic cotton baby carrier and filed it, thus ensuring Georgia will be protected from yet another tabloid story. He tells the Journal:
"Nadya Suleman is going to cost the state of California millions of dollars over the years; the taxpayers are going to have to fund the 14 children she has," Republican state Sen. Ralph T. Hudgens, one of the sponsors of the bill, said in an interview. "I don't want that to happen in Georgia."
Here's what gossip blog Jezebel says about the Senate bill:
While up to this point, we've watched the Nadya Suleman story turn into a tabloid media circus, this legislation marks the beginning of the octuplets' birth spurring actual legal changes. Georgia lawmakers point out that other countries, such as Britain, already limit the number of embryos transferred per cycle. Other countries have found ways to reducing risky multiple births, but they've also adopted policies that don't severely limit women's rights. Hopefully in the U.S., as more states introduce limits on embryo transfers inspired by Nadya Suleman, lawmakers will consult with doctors and create legislation backed by fertility specialists that doesn't also seek to limit reproductive rights.
Walter Jones of Morris News today covered both the Senate and Mills' bill. He got this wonderful quote from the Republican representative:
"I do not believe that an embryo, especially a frozen embryo, should be compared to a Popsicle or an ice cube in the refrigerator," [Mills] said. "I believe there are two different values. Clearly you cannot adopt a Popsicle. I think there should be a mechanism by which you can adopt an embryo."
If I were Mills, I'd be hoping that someone doesn't introduce a bill banning Jedi mind tricks. Dude's a master of those.
The Senate is expected to hold a hearing this week on its embryo bill. No word yet on Obi Wan Mills' legislation.
Comments (1)
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One thing that seems to get left out in most of these articles is that not only is Georgia trying to limit how many embryos are transferred but also how many are created. They mention that other countries already limit the number of embryos transferred. However they do not limit the embryos created since every embryo does not create a child. This whole thing is a bit scary to me. The idea of actually consulting actual trained physicians is a good one.
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