But advocates for Amendment 4, the abortion rights measure on the ballot this November, say the clarification doesn't do enough.

Florida’s two state health agencies clarified for doctors on Thursday morning that an abortion is allowed at “any stage in pregnancy” to save the life and health of the mother, according to a press release.

“Providers are reminded that Florida requires life-saving medical care to a mother without delay when necessary, and the Florida Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration will take regulatory action when a provider fails to follow this standard of care,” the press release says in bold text.

The release, aimed to dispel what the state called “misinformation” about abortion in Florida, also says “miscarriage is not an abortion” in bold text and warns health care facilities and providers that a failure to provide life-saving treatment for pregnant women may constitute malpractice.

  • snooggumsEnglish
    67•3 months ago

    It is great, but does the Attorney General care what the health agencies say?

    The chilling effect from the abortion bans also comes from contradictory regulations, rules, and guidance with medical professionals trying to error on the side of not being prosecuted because the AG wants to drag them to court over whether the mother’s life was in danger.

    In Thursday’s press release, the agencies mention “fatal fetal abnormality” as an exception to the abortion law along with rape, incest and human trafficking. The press release later explains the exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking have a cut off for 15 weeks, but the agencies do not say whether that applies to “fatal fetal abnormality.”

    • @[email protected]
      36•3 months ago

      That is the problem.

      The department of health can say whatever they want. The risk there is that a doctor’s license might be suspended or, more likely, they get a slap on the wrist.

      The legal system will put a felony (looks like third degree) on the doctor and potentially throw them in prison for five years.

      Theoretically, doctors care more about saving lives and will risk anything. In reality? Doctors (and all medical professionals) have been tortured for years because of all the anti-medicine shit that comes out of the fascists and is more likely to say “Fuck it, take my license. I am gonna go deliver pizzas in a blue state rather than deal with one more minute of this shit”

      • snooggumsEnglish
        9•3 months ago

        Hard to save lived from jail or without a license to practice, so they are still choosing to save lives in general when they make the decision not to save specific patients.

    • I'm back on my BS 🤪English
      6•3 months ago

      the agencies mention “fatal fetal abnormality” as an exception to the abortion law along with rape, incest and human trafficking.

      I wonder if a woman simply stating she was raped is enough to get the abortion. Kind of like how there are 14 approved reasons for Americans to travel to Cuba, so travelers simply have to pick one and they can go.

      • snooggumsEnglish
        13•3 months ago

        Proof is required for rape exceptions in Florida’s proposed abortion law

        Also limited to 15 weeks, which is way too short for forcing a decision in normal circumstances, much less from surviving a traumatic event and not necessarily knowing that one is pregnant yet.

        Edit: Found a better article

        Survivors of rape, incest or human trafficking can access abortions until 15 weeks of pregnancy under the new law. But it mandates they provide a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record or other documentation to their appointment, and providers may be obligated to report the crime in some cases.

        Many survivors don’t feel safe or comfortable reporting assaults, noted Stephanie Loraine Piñeiro, executive director of the abortion fund Florida Access Network. She called the requirements “unrealistic” and “incredibly cruel.”

        As with the previous 15-week ban, there are exceptions to save the pregnant person’s life or avert “substantial and irreversible” bodily harm. But some pregnant women reported they were denied necessary care during miscarriages and other complications due to doctors’ hesitancy about interpreting similar laws.