From Addia Wuchner, Executive Director of Kentucky Right to Life

Today marks one year since the life of an unborn baby could be legally and willfully terminated in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We celebrate every life saved this past year. We are grateful to Kentucky lawmakers, Attorney General Daniel Cameron and everyone who has prayed, advocated as a voice for the voiceless.

We have worked over 50 years for the human rights of the unborn and the defense of the most vulnerable, yet the right to life of the unborn has been and continues to be the defining issue of our time. There is a difference between the pro-choice advocates’ message that says you can separate the mother from her child and our pro-life message that says you cannot. You cannot love the women without loving the child, nor can you love the child without loving the mother. Our message is clear that to be pro-life means to be pro-woman.

Today the ACLU and abortion advocates hosted a rally to complain about a year of lack of access to abortion and the right for a pregnant woman to terminate the life of her unborn child in the Commonwealth. The challenge we put before the pro-choice advocates today, if we truly care about Kentucky women, we must come together and seek ways to support pregnant women that provide a path for a bright future, breaking the cycle of poverty for Kentucky women and their children.

We must work together to respond to the issues impacting Kentucky women. Over the years, I have listened to vulnerable young women explaining how they felt pressured to choose between having their baby or continuing their education. Kentucky Right to Life is currently working with the private sector and with lawmakers to develop initiatives that will assist teens and college women to accomplish their educational goals and impact future generations of Kentuckians. Additionally, we are working with lawmakers to ensure women access to programs that provide critical healthcare support for a non-viable pregnancy.

Kentucky Right to Life will continue to advocate, to expand our outreach and to explore new initiatives that support vulnerable young women in crisis experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and empower women to make life-affirming decisions. Loving them both, moms and their babies, means we can do more, and we must do more.

MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 8-3-22

“ProLife Americans energetically sought the Friday, June 24th, Supreme Court decision overturning Roe for over four decades. Perhaps, with the Roe v. Wade overturn, too many folks on our side may think we’ve won the battle. In fact, the battle has only shifted from the federal level to the states.

“Kansas voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot measure similar to Kentucky’s Amendment #2, to tighten restrictions or ban abortion outright.

“Kentucky is a pro-life state. Our laws reflect the long-held values of Kentuckians”, said Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, Kentucky Right to Life and Chair of the Yes for Life Alliance.

“In recent years the abortion industry has sanitized the word ‘abortion,’ framing it as healthcare. Abortion is not healthcare; it is the only medical procedure that results in the intended termination of an unborn child.

“The wording of Kentucky’s Amendment 2 is very clear and concise. It is probably too soon to fully analyze the reason for the Kansas ballot outcome. The wording on the Kansas ballot was longer than our statement, and that may have been a factor.

“In Kentucky, we remain laser-focused on motivating our overwhelmingly pro-life state to turn out and vote ‘Yes for Life’ on Tuesday, November 8th!’’ stated Wuchner.

MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 8-1-22

On Monday evening Judge Larry E. Thompson of the Kentucky Court of Appeals granted an emergency ‘stay’ that will spare the lives of Kentucky unborn babies scheduled to be terminated by abortion on Tuesday.

Judge Thompson noted, “One cannot discount the reality that any abortions performed in the interim period, in which the pending CR 65.07 motion and the issue of constitutionality of the statutes make their way through the courts, cannot be undone should Movant prevail on the merits in his defense of the statutes.”

We are grateful for these courageous words and the wisdom of Judge Thompson.

This ruling was in response to the temporary injunction issued by Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry that allowed abortion in Kentucky to continue. His injunction ignored Kentucky’s duly enacted ‘Trigger Ban’ and Heartbeat Law. In granting the stay, Judge Thompson recognized the sad reality that dozens of innocent human lives would be irretrievably lost before the case is finally decided unless the Trigger Law was allowed to be enforced.

Kentucky Right to Life salutes Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his team for their perseverance and legal acumen in defending the laws of the Commonwealth and our Kentucky Constitution.

By Calvin Freiburger | National Right to Life News | July 26, 2022

Roe v. Wade can no longer be used in court to claim a constitutional “right” to abortion, but a judge in Kentucky has asserted a new rationale for blocking legal protections for the preborn.

On Friday, Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Mitch Perry granted abortion facilities in the Bluegrass State a temporary injunction against enforcement of two pro-life measures, a heartbeat-based abortion ban and a general abortion ban designed not to take effect until Roe was overturned, which together effectively prohibit nearly all abortions.

Perry claimed there was a “substantial likelihood” that the laws “violate the rights to privacy and self-determination” as well as to equal protection and religious freedom under the Kentucky Constitution, and suggested that the trigger law was “unconstitutionally vague” and an “unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority.”

Republican state Attorney General Daniel Cameron rejected Perry’s assertions about the state’s constitution. Cameron has previously argued that the “non-enforcement of even ordinary statutes amounts to irreparable harm. The non-enforcement of the Human Life Protection Act and Heartbeat Law amounts to something far more grave. These laws prohibit what the General Assembly has determined is the unjustified taking of unborn human life. So every day that these laws are not enforced is a day in which unborn children of the Commonwealth perish.”

Kentucky’s 15-week abortion ban currently remains in effect.

The ruling reflects plans pro-abortion activists have mulled for years to root abortion-on-demand in state constitutions rather than the U.S. Constitution, to insulate it from action by the U.S. Supreme Court. Of particular note is Perry’s assertion that the laws’ premise of life beginning at conception is “a distinctly Christian and Catholic belief,” enforcement of which constitutes an establishment of religion.

“Other faiths hold a wide variety on when life begins and at what point a fetus should be recognized as an independent human being,” Perry said. “The laws at issue here, adopt the view embraced by some, but not all, religious traditions, that life begins at the moment of conception. The General Assembly is not permitted to single out and endorse the doctrine of a favored faith for preferred treatment.”

Read more.

MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 7-22-22

Today, July 22, 2022, Jefferson Circuit Judge Mitch Perry issued a ruling to continue blocking the Humanity in Healthcare Act of 2022 and the ‘Heartbeat Law’ of 2019. Abortions in Kentucky continue to be performed, despite the overturn of Roe and the “Trigger Law” passed in 2019 in a bipartisan vote. That law ended abortion in Kentucky when or if Roe was overturned, with the exception of the health risk and medical condition of the mother.

Let me be direct, Kentucky’s battle for the human rights of the child is in the courts because Planned Parenthood, ACLU and EMW seek to have a Kentucky judge and our courts undermine the laws of the Commonwealth.

We find today’s decision by Judge Perry an exercise in raw judicial power on behalf of the abortion industry.

What is most disturbing is that Judge Perry wrote in his opinion, “the court finds any harm the defendants may suffer is outweighed by the interests of the plaintiffs,” which effectively means he believes that the abortion providers’ interest outweighs the life of a human child.

Kentucky’s laws to push back the aggression of the Roe decision, reflect the values of Kentuckians that honor the humanity of both the woman and her child. For over 100 years, the laws of the Commonwealth have upheld the intrinsic dignity of each and every life, defined in our Constitution as beginning at conception.

As prolife advocates, today’s ruling only confirms our mission this November to pass Constitutional Amendment 2, ‘Yes for Life,’ so that no politician, president, legislator or judge can invent the right to abortion based on political ideologies or interpretations of our constitution or the influence of any extremist multimillion dollar industry representing their own interests.

Navigating the growing confusion of legislative initiatives and lawsuits that have followed in the wake of the overturn of Roe v Wade is a daily duty.

Please join Kentucky Right to Life and our Chapters as we stand with National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of state right-to-life organizations, to strongly oppose the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 (HR 8296) and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022 (HR 8297). Read more here. Both of these bills passed the House on July 15.

The video below describes some of what is at stake.

You may call your legislators directly or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

- Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, Kentucky Right to Life

 

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“HR 8296 would legally authorize and enable the violent death of unborn baby girls and boys by dismemberment, beheading, forced expulsion from the womb, deadly poisons, or other methods at any time, for any reason, until birth.”

MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, RN, Executive Director, KRTL | 7-8-22

Two weeks ago, in the majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, the High Court noted: Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.

“Following the Dobbs decision, which returned the debate on abortion to Congress and the state legislatures, we have continued to witness concerted efforts by the Biden administration under extreme pressure on behalf of the abortion industry to execute their plan to promote and expand abortion under the umbrella of protecting women’s health,” said Addia Wuchner, executive director, Kentucky Right to Life. “Misinformation and deceptive statements presented by the abortion providers has been nothing more than scaremongering intentionally directed at the very women that they profess to care about. The President’s speech today and his Executive Order reflect the same tactics.”

To be perfectly clear:

• ProLife legislation, explicitly makes clear that treatment for miscarriages does not fall under the legal definnition of abortion.
• No law exists that “outlaws” the treatment of ectopic pregnancies. An ectopic pregnancy is a condition where the embryo developing outside the uterus, that must be carefully monitored by the woman’s healthcare specialist to see what medical intervention is needed, which may include surgery.
• No law exists that “outlaws” contraception or infertility care.

Additionally, this past May, KRTL joined other pro-life leaders publicly affirming that we are vehemently opposed to women being prosecuted for having or seeking an abortion. An open letter to state legislators stating the opposition of the movement to the prosecution of women was signed by over 70 pro-life groups.

Wuchner stated, “Recently, in almost every debate and discussion about the subject, pregnancy is presented a barrier and destructive to a women’s future. We believe Kentucky women deserve better, they deserve truth and options. We believe all women deserve better.’’

The 1973 Roe decision, ushered in 49 years of legal violence on the unborn child and a distortion of women’s health care. The abortion industry has strategically sanitized the discussion on abortion. The humanity of the child is almost nonexistent in the discussion, when the child is referred to as “pregnancy tissue” by the abortion industry. But, make no mistake, abortion is the intentional ending of the life of another human being, and it is discrimination to act without considering the moral status of the human child.

“I find today’s executive order by President Biden, which is rather vague and lacking clear guidance, is in reality an “exercise in raw political power’’ on behalf of the abortion industry. The abortion industry with deep, deep pockets, under the guise of caring about women’s health, ends the life of preborn children”, Wuchner stated. “As committed pro-woman and pro-life advocates, Kentucky Right to Life has the obligation to call out such deceptive actions. We will continue to work with and challenge today’s leaders to explore opportunities that focus on women and children and assist them in finding solutions.”

Kentucky’s laws surrounding abortion have stood the test time reflecting the values of Kentuckians, that honors the humanity of both the woman and her child. Kentucky first enacted laws in 1910 restricting abortion except to protect the life of the mother. For over 100 years, the laws of the Commonwealth bore witness to the intrinsic dignity of each and every life from conception. In 2019, in a bipartisan vote Kentucky Legislators passed the Trigger Law, that effectively ended abortion in Kentucky with the overturning of Roe, with the exception of the health risk and medical condition of the mother.

“Our Kentucky battle for the human right of the child is in the Courts today, because Planned Parenthood and the ACLU seek to have Kentucky Judges and the Courts undermine the laws of the Commonwealth. As pro-life advocates, it is our mission this November to pass Constitutional Amendment 2, so that no politician, no president or legislator or judge can invent the right to abortion based on their own political beliefs or the influence of any extreme multimillion dollar industry’’, said Wuchner.

UPDATE | 7-28-22

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 28, 2022) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today took another step in his fight to protect unborn life by filing an appeal in the Kentucky Court of Appeals to have the Kentucky Human Life Protection Act and the Heartbeat Law reinstated in the Commonwealth. The Attorney General’s filing appeals a ruling by a Louisville judge that temporarily halted the laws last week. The Attorney General also asks that his appeal be transferred to the Supreme Court of Kentucky for immediate resolution. Read more.

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UPDATE | 7-18-22

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 18, 2022) – Attorney General Daniel Cameron today continued his defense of Kentucky’s Human Life Protection Act and Heartbeat Law.  The Attorney General asked a Jefferson Circuit Court Judge to deny a request by Kentucky’s two abortion facilities for a temporary injunction that would extend a previous order preventing enforcement of the laws against the facilities. The abortion providers claim that the laws violate a never-before-recognized state constitutional right to abortion. Read more.

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UPDATE | 7-6-22

On Tuesday evening, the Ky Supreme Court denied the Emergency Motion to lift Judge Perry's injunction. We are disappointed but pressing forward. Watch for further updates.

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UPDATE | 7-4-22

Attorney General Daniel Cameron has filed an Appeal with the Kentucky Supreme Court. Read more. Watch for further updates.

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UPDATE | 7-2-22

Judge Glenn Acree, Kentucky Court of Appeals, rejected Attorney General Daniel Cameron's appeal Saturday, July 2. Watch for further updates.

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ORIGINAL POST

Following Judge Perry's TRO of the Ky Human Life Protection Act on June 30, Attorney General Daniel Cameron swiftly responded with a statement and an Emergency Motion filed with the Kentucky Court of Appeals.

His statement reads, in part:

“In the wake of an historic victory for life at the nation’s highest court, today, one judge in Kentucky has, without basis in the Kentucky Constitution, allowed two clinics to resume abortions. We cannot let the same mistake that happened in Roe v. Wade, nearly 50 years ago, to be made again in Kentucky. We will be seeking relief from this order..."

Read more.

The Motion asks the Appeals Court to enter a temporary order setting aside the restraining order entered by Jefferson Circuit Court's Judge Perry.

It states: It is black letter law in Kentucky that “non-enforcement of a duly-enacted statute constitutes irreparable harm to the public and the government."

Read more.

Thank you, General Cameron!

UPDATE | 7-7-22

KRTL prayed outside the Jefferson Co. Justice Center and attended the full 'bench' trial on July 6. For now--- Abortion services will remain available in Kentucky while a judge considers whether to grant an injunction blocking two state laws that would obstruct access to the procedure. Watch for updates.

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MEDIA STATEMENT provided by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL | 6-30-22

Last week, pro-life Kentuckians and Americans rejoiced at the ending of five-decades of federal judicial overreach as Roe v Wade was overturned in the Dobbs decision.

Sadly today, Judge Mitch Perry with the Kentucky 30th Circuit Court, 3rd Division, issued a temporary restraining order that will now allow Kentucky’s two Louisville-based abortion facilities to resume the taking of innocent life.

“We are deeply troubled by this ruling because it clearly circumvents the bipartisan Human Life Protection Act that was overwhelming passed by the Kentucky State Legislature in 2019, and became enforceable last Friday with the United States Supreme Court’s decision which overturned Roe v Wade.

“Judge Perry by issuing this order is allowing the reinstatement of abortions at Planned Parenthood and EMW Center”, said Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, Kentucky Right to Life.

“We fully support Kentucky’s Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his team as they continue to defend this law and protect the lives of the innocent unborn children in our Commonwealth through the judicial process,” Wuchner added.

The action taken today by one judge further underscores the importance of saying Yes for Life by passing Constitutional Amendment #2 that will be on the Kentucky ballot this coming November 8th.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 24, 2022) – Kentucky Right to Life Executive Director Addia Wuchner released the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:



“Today, our nation rights one of its most terrible wrongs. The prayers of millions of prolife Americans have been answered as our legal system begins to recognize the rights, dignity and humanity of every precious child. Roe was wrong the day it was handed down, and today’s decision sets course for a new generation of life in America.
 

“For 50 years, Kentucky Right to Life has been the face of the Commonwealth’s ProLife Movement as a proud and prayerful witness for humanity in the public square. Our mission continues to be changing hearts and saving lives.



“We rejoice today in this long-awaited victory. But now our work to uphold the cause of life truly begins.


“This November, every Kentucky voter will have the chance to stand up for our prolife values and vote Yes for Life. This ProLife Constitutional Amendment is critical to guaranteeing we don’t fall victim to another tragedy of judicial activism like Roe here in Kentucky. Voting YES on Constitutional Amendment Number Two is our opportunity ensure no judge puts his own politics above the will of the people and invents a right to abortion in our Commonwealth.



“In the coming months, Kentucky Right to Life and our partners in the Yes for Life Alliance will tirelessly engage prolife Kentuckians in every corner of our Commonwealth on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


“To ensure that today’s celebration isn’t undercut by a judge who doesn’t speak for Kentucky, we need everyone to vote Yes on Constitutional Amendment Number Two. Together, we can officially make Kentucky a bold, prolife state this November.”

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Addia has provided interviews for too many media to count. The news coverage of this SCOTUS decision is global and bigger than 9/11. President Biden has said: “This fall, let’s elect more senators and representatives who will codify a women’s right to choose into law once again.” KRTL says: Vote YES for LIFE and elect pro-life candidates!

by Addia Wuchner, KRTL Executive Director

With the potential overturn of Roe v Wade in shouting distance, the media is hungry for news and comments. We accommodate all news outlets without bias.

Unfortunately we can’t report that all the news people and platforms are open to our views even while we respond to their questions. This is made clear when they alter our words to fit their official narrative.

For example, we often use the term ‘abortion facility’ but they change it to ‘reproductive healthcare clinic.’ We use the term ‘surgical abortion’ to define abortions that require the use of instruments to crush the heads and and to scrape the body parts of pre-born babies from mothers’ wombs. They use the term ‘abortion procedure.’

In fact, surgical instruments may be required as early as 12 weeks if the fetus’ head will not pass through the birth canal unless crushed. Up to 14 weeks the abortion may be accomplished by suction aspiration, but after that the normal procedure is Dilation and Evacuation, D&E, using curette steel instruments.

The American College of ObGyns (ACOG) has an Abortion Language Guide which directs its members not to use the term ‘Dismemberment Ban’, for example, but instead to say, ‘Dilation and Evacuation Ban.’

Their Guide says doctors should not say ‘womb’ but ‘uterus’; don’t say ‘partial-birth-abortion,’ just say ‘intact dilation & evacuation.’

We use the term ‘chemical’ for abortions that are done by RU486 or abortion pill regimens. They use ‘medical’ to avoid the implication that harsh chemicals are involved. However, you can see in the screenshot below from the National Institute of Health website that harsh chemicals are used.

In addition to the ACOG Guide, the Associated Press Style Book provides a ‘style book’ for the news media. It’s a conspiracy!

A pro-life author who submits a piece taking a position against abortion will see the words “pro-life” changed to “anti-abortion,” because the AP Stylebook instructs, “Use anti-abortion instead of pro-life and pro-abortion rights instead of pro-abortion or pro-choice.” It goes on, “Avoid abortionist,” saying the term “connotes a person who performs clandestine abortions.”

Roe says VIABILITY is the test for when abortions may be performed. Yet we now have legislators, doctors and states that advise or permit abortion of full-term babies, even those alive outside the womb, that is, VIABLE. How unbelievable!

Thank you pro-lifers for supporting our work during this critical time in Kentucky and in America. KRTL has been bombarded this entire year with more than 40 requests for interviews and statements.

I accommodate these in person, in the office, on zoom, at media locations or wherever— to be sure that our Kentucky Right to Life is front and center on the abortion controversy. I want to bring a thoughtful and caring expression so that we will help to build a culture of life in our morally devastated nation and world. We count on your support for this work.

From all of us at KYRTL, Thank You to the amazing groups and individuals who reached out in support of the Dobbs case with Amicus Briefs! Enjoy searching, sorting and reading a synopsis of the 85 briefs here on this website. We’re dedicated! Celebrate the American Pro-life Experience. - Addia Wuchner

Stay tuned for boots-on-the-ground coverage of the case at the Supreme Court this week. #PrayingForDobbs #EmpowerWomenPromoteLife

UPDATE: November 9, 2021

Pro-life leaders’ message balms the air waves!

As KRTL director, I would like to personally thank Renee Shaw with Kentucky Educational Television, for her media boldness and talent— hosting an all-women panel discussion where passions and politics met. Abortion, ProLife, ProWoman, healthcare; science vs. personal views on when life begins; exploring the risky business of chemical abortion pills and the need for Kentucky to apply safety measures in response to importation of these pills from China- amidst the FDA’s decreasing regulations; the delicate matter of how we treat and care for the remains of the human child in a dignified process vs. being disposed of as medical or pathological waste; and medical conscience legislation. Look for more discussions on the Humanity in Healthcare Act 2022! - Addia Wuchner

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ORIGINAL POST:

KET host Renee Shaw has invited Addia Wuchner, R.N., Executive Director-KRTL, State Representative Nancy Tate (D-27), and Katie Glenn, Esq., Government Affairs Counsel for Americans United for Life, to share their ProLife–Pro Woman position on Kentucky Tonight. The discussion will include abortion, the Humanity In Healthcare Act 2022, Yes for Life, the 2022 General Assembly, and more. Please join us to watch this special program!

From left: Katie Glenn, Addia Wuchner, Nancy Tate, Renee Shaw

Scheduled guests include Tamarri Wieder, Ky State Director of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky; State Representative Attica Scott, a Democrat from Louisville (D-41); and Heather Gatnarek, staff attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky.

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The show aired live on Monday, November 8 at 8:00pm EST and 7:00pm CST on KET.

One of the most popular pages on the KRLA website is the one that has Abortion Statistics. Addia Wuchner, KRLA executive director, is in the process of updating some features. These will be reported when completed.

The reports on the KRLA website are provided by Donna Durning and a team of sidewalk counselors. They faithfully minister outside the EMW clinic each day it is open for business, counseling any women who will receive a pamphlet or exchange words, and counting the number who enter the clinic.

Their reports note that Kentucky’s 24-hour consent law means that some of the women may visit two or more times for one abortion. However, the EMW website says: “The State of Kentucky requires a face-to-face consent 24 hours before your procedure. This consent can take place in-person at EMW or by video consent via your computer or smartphone.” In other words, EMW starts counting the 24-hours if the woman shows up online for the video conference.

You may wonder how accurate the sidewalk counselors’ abortion statistics reports are. They are close.

In the bench trial to determine whether Transfer Agreements were needed, the Clinic owner shared statistics that were close to the pro-life team’s. Dr. Ernest Marshall noted that about 3,000 abortions were done yearly.

The most recent Ky Annual Abortion Statistics Report reveals that there were 3,021 abortions of Ky women, along with 318 who came from Indiana, 236 from Tennessee, 38 from Ohio, 22 from W. Va., and 29 from 15 other states. In full, 3,664 abortions were performed in Ky in 2019. Of that number, 19 were done in local hospitals. The sidewalk team report for 2019 was 3,978.

The 2019 report is the most current official one that we may view online. By law the Vital Statistics Branch issues a public report with statistics on all data collected for the PREVIOUS calendar year, by Sept. 30 of each year.

Legislation affecting abortion statistics

In 2020 a single bill with pro-life language passed, and was not vetoed. SB 102, sponsored by Senators Robby Mills, Ralph Alvarado and C.B. Embry, requires that abortions be termed abortion, not stillbirth or termination of pregnancy, and that clinics and private hospitals report each abortion, regardless of the length of gestation, within 15 days after the end of each month in which the abortion occurred, to the Vital Statistics Branch.

There are penalties for late reporting. The woman’s name is never recorded nor is any man’s name nor the physician’s. As well, each prescription issued for RU-486 or other abortion medications must be reported to Vital Statistics within 15 days and without any identifying data.

As stated on the Vital Statistics abortion statistics web page, “The name of the person completing the report and the reporting institution are not subject to disclosure under KRS 61.870 to 61.884.” To the best of our understanding, in the future we will know the number of abortions performed or chemically induced, but not the institution names.

Trust But Verify is always a good rule. To that end, HB103 has been filed by Rep. Joe Fischer with 14 Republican co-sponsors to require the Department of Vital Statistics Report to include verification of compliance with the certification requirement of KRS 311.727 and to specify that the Auditor of Public Accounts shall function as a health oversight agency for the purpose of performing the audit. Read more.

With a preponderance of medical (chemical) abortions reported in 2019 —1845 out of 3664– it may be that the new requirement to report abortion pill prescriptions will bring to light greater numbers of these and any pharmacies that cooperate with out-of-state telemed abortion providers.

Ky has a law that an abortion must be done in person, not via telehealth programs, but this was overridden for a time in 2020. See related article.

Since SB 120 only passed last spring, at about the same time the Planned Parenthood clinic opened, the 2019 report has only EMW and private hospital statistics.

In it we see that University Hospital performed seven abortions. Ky Law states: Public agency funds shall not be used for the purpose of obtaining an abortion or paying for the performance of an abortion. So, we assume these seven were private-pays or to save the life of the mother. Norton Hospital performed eight and Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital performed four. EMW performed 3,645.

According to the 2019 Report, eight abortions were classified as “Termination Necessary.” But 1,745 were classified as Termination Necessary Status “unknown.” Of the Total Number, 1,911 were categorized as NOT necessary. This is hard to understand.

Ky Law states: No abortion shall be performed except by a physician after either: (a) He determines that, in his best clinical judgment, the abortion is necessary; or (b) He receives what he reasonably believes to be a written statement signed by another physician, hereinafter called the ‘referring physician,’ certifying that in the referring physician’s best clinical judgment the abortion is necessary, and, in addition, he receives a copy of the report form required by KRS 213.055. This statute has been in effect since 1982, but in 1990, during the administration of Wallace Wilkinson (D), the requirement for the report form was dropped.

Thank you, Sidewalk Team, for your dedication and love for unborn babies and their moms. You are our healthcare heroines.

On January 22^nd, a statement from President Biden and Vice President Harris was issued:

Today marks the 48th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade.

In the past four years, reproductive health, including the right to choose, has been under relentless and extreme attack. We are deeply committed to making sure everyone has access to care— including reproductive health care — regardless of income, race, zip code, health insurance status, or immigration status.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to codifying Roe v. Wade and appointing judges that respect foundational precedents like Roe…  

Read the full statement here.

What does this portend? What is the meaning of codify? Well, Roe v. Wade is just a court ruling. It can be changed by SCOTUS at any time. But if it were put into legislation— codified, then it could only be reversed if found to be unconstitutional. And if codified by Federal legislation, it would preempt state law, according to Article VI of the Constitution.

So, it’s time for the Supreme Court to hear a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade! Four of the nine Justices are needed to grant a Petition for Certiorari to start the process. We believe we have the votes! Which case under current litigation would be a perfect one to prevent codification of Roe v. Wade and return the question to the states? Ky could supply several.

The Roe v. Wade decision was written in a time before ultrasounds were widely used in obstetrics. Today the ultrasound between weeks 6 and 9 checks the heartbeat and development of the fetus. For some time now, even open heart surgery can be performed on a pre-born baby! With such clear views to the womb, it’s time to overturn Roe v. Wade.