A Move to Bring ‘Fetus’ to Full Terminology

Under the guise of expanding prenatal care, President Bush has proposed to define fetuses as unborn children in order to make fetuses eligible for health care under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (Feb. 1).

But if his goal were really expanding access to prenatal care he would say, “We’re going to cover more pregnant women.” That is clearly not his goal, and we are concerned that giving a fetus this status could put at risk a woman’s right to make her own childbearing decisions.

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles enthusiastically supports the expansion of publicly funded health care, including prenatal care for pregnant women. We, along with others, have worked tirelessly to increase health coverage for pregnant women. Bush has made an inflammatory and unnecessary proposal. It was a bad idea when the administration floated it last year--and it’s still a bad idea. While he has united the country on the war on terrorism, his domestic agenda appears to be divisive and off-target. We urge President Bush to join our efforts to support pregnant women through more appropriate, existing health programs.

Nancy L. Sasaki

President, Planned Parenthood

Los Angeles

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I applaud the Bush administration’s declaration that a developing fetus should be eligible for government-funded health insurance for low-income children. Extending health care to more women during pregnancy is sure to reduce stress in low-income mothers, and that can only be good for the mother and the heretofore unborn child.

I would like to act as a voice of reason among fake liberals who denounce this landmark decision. They see it as a vast right-wing conspiracy--an insidious ploy designed to establish a legal foundation for outlawing abortion. I call them fake liberals because, in order to be consistent with a liberal platform, one must stand up for all weaker members of society who, due to built-in differential opportunity structures, are discriminated against.

Bruce L. Thiessen

Sacramento