Help Stop Changes to Abortion Regulations

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Email Subject:

Dear Commissioner Juthani

I am submitting my comments to you on the proposed changes to the existing abortion regulations PR 2022-042. I am in opposition to the removal of sections: 19-13-D54(f) – honoring a medical provider's religious and conscientious exemption to not participate in an abortion, 19-13-D54(g) – support for an infant showing signs of life after an abortion and 19-13-D54(h) – prohibition against third trimester abortions, except if the mother's health is threatened.  
  These regulations have been in force for decades within our state and have not presented any real problems to patients or providers. Abortion is one of the most contentious issues in our nation. The changes your department is proposing may seem simple in nature, but they are not. These three changes touch upon some of the most contentious aspects of the abortion issue. Lacking clear legislative direction to make these changes, I am urging you to leave these three sections in the final version of your proposed regulation. Changes of this magnitude, which touch on religious liberty and the value of human life, not technical medical issues or standards of care, should be left to our elected representatives.   
  Thank you for this opportunity to present my position.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your City & State]

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Summary

The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is attempting to make changes to state regulations concerning abortions. Although many are technical in nature, several are extremely important and were not properly posted in the legal announcement. We believe this was an intential effort by the DPH to hide these changes from the public. The three regulations that are marked for elimination have existed for over 50 years. The sections in question are: 19-13-D54(f) – honoring a medical provider's religious and conscientious exemption to not participate in an abortion 19-13-D54(g) – support for an infant showing signs of life after an abortion 19-13-D54(h) – prohibition against third trimester abortions, except if the mother's health is threatened.    Since July, the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference has been working to address procedural errors in the review process outlined by law. The Conference was pushing to have the public comment period reopened and to have a public hearing on the changes. The DPH has finally agreed to reopen a 30 day comment period and hold a public hearing.   Following the comment period and public hearing the DPH will submit their final recommendations to the Legislative Regulations and Review Committee for approval. Hopefully, the final recommendations will not include the elimination of these three regulations.    To participate in the Public Comment Period please use this action email to send in your comments to the DPH. We have drafted an email which you can submit. However, we encourage you to write your own personnal comments.

Who will receive your email?

Dante Costa Public Health Policy Associate