Bush Administration Classifies Fetus as 'Unborn Child'
Melanie Hunter, CNSNews.com
Friday, Feb. 1, 2002
The Bush administration Thursday said a developing fetus may be classified as an "unborn child" eligible for government health care. The decision gives low-income women access to prenatal care, and worries abortion supporters who believe the decision could weaken their argument.
The plan will make a fetus eligible for a health care under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), because in the past CHIP has been aimed at kids and does not typically cover parents or pregnant women.
"Prenatal care for women and their babies is a crucial part of the medical care every person should have through the course of their life cycle," said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. "Prenatal services can be a vital, lifelong determinant of health, and we should do everything we can to make this care available for all pregnant women."
Pro-abortion groups think the decision could lead to the establishment of a fetus as a person with legal standing, therefore making abortion a crime. "If they're interested in covering pregnant women, why don't they talk about pregnant women?" asked Laurie Rubiner of National Partnership for Women and Families. "I just have to believe their hidden agenda is to extend personhood to a fetus."
Abortion opponents, though, welcomed the news.
"It is something that we endorse and have been working to see that it come about," said Kristen Hansen, a spokeswoman for Family Research Council. "It's something we're very happy about. This does acknowledge that low-income pregnant women need help with prenatal care."
Copyright CNSNews.com
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