Texas' looming abortion restrictions - What this means for El Paso

Last Friday, Texas' Senate approved a drastic new abortion measure that would, in effect ban all abortions past the 20w mark and also attempt to shutter the majority of abortion providers in the state of Texas due to stringent rules requiring them to upgrade to Ambulatory Surgical Centers. All that awaits now is Rick Perry's signature on the dotted line to make it a law. Though, I highly suspect it will be embroiled in a long, legal battle the past few weeks have been extremely motivating and fascinating. Listening to the GOP version and spin on this legislation is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the debate. I've listened to a LOT of debate over the past 4 weeks regarding this law and I have to address each one specifically as it regards to El Paso, TX and our very very unique situation. This is what the rest of Texas needs to know about El Paso. This is what our lawmakers need to realize.These are the facts as we know them:

1. 20w Ban.  In this new restrictive measure, all abortions performed after the 20w mark would be illegal. While I have my own personal exception to this, because it has been proven that 90% of all post- 20w procedures are done on women who have discovered fetal abnormalities, what I feel is absolutely necessary to point out to those living and residing in El Paso, TX is that in the 2003 legislative session, Texas already made certain provisions that all procedures performed post 16w gestation be performed in an Ambulatory Surgical Center or in a hospital. Meaning-- in El Paso, TX, unless the procedure is absolutely medically necessary and the patient petitions a local hospital to receive care, they just don't happen here. Residents must travel elsewhere to receive this treatment, as it has been for the past 10yrs.  So, to focus on this particular point of legislation here locally is really distracting from the much larger issue at hand.

2. Requirement that all doctors have admitting privileges at a hospital no further than 30mi away from the surgical center. Wait a minute, you say. THIS SOUNDS REALLY LOGICAL. Of course it does, dear readers. You want your physicians treating you to have access to hospitals in the area. The problem with this portion in particular, again, doesn't really affect El Paso County. It is my personal knowledge that at least one of the providers here runs his own separate high-risk OB/GYN practice and has admitting privileges to several area hospitals. The problem here is in outlying areas of the state where hospitals are predominately run by Catholic or Baptist organizations that are unable under their moral responsibility clause to accept those physicians as admitting physicians. There is no state mandate to force those private medical hospitals to allow admitting privileges for those doctors either. The other obvious thing that people overlook is that the vast majority of patients that would be admitted into these hospitals would be treated by a hospitalist. This is the new trending solution in many hospitals is to have a key physician on call that is responsible for all incoming cases. The primary or admitting physician rarely takes charge of a case once that patient is admitted into the hospital. Sure, medical records are nice to have, but the primary physician is rarely the one in charge of the case or even responsible for primary care in the event that something were to "go wrong." I experienced this very same phenomenon with my own mother when she was admitted as a trauma patient to UMC in Sept. 2012. Her primary physician did not have admitting privileges to UMC and in fact, I will admit, her care was actually better because of it. When we finally had her transferred to an in-network hospital, there was an incredible amount of disagreement and infighting between her primary physician and the internist/hospitalist that ultimately led to compromised patient care. Ignoring the procedural workings of Texas' hospital system in this case can lead one to see things as black and white, when in fact, its anything but.

3. Requirement that all RU-486 pills be administered by a licensed abortion provider physician. In simple terms - the most ridiculous of all of the provisions. Currently, this pill is typically administered by a either a licensed RN or a PA. The subsequent dosages are given to the patient to take at home with very detailed instructions on when and who to call if any need arises. The is the true catch-22. These dosages must be spaced a specific amount of time apart and when the legislature gets involved in the dosage requirements (not even federally mandated by the FDA) they are absolutely playing doctor and interfering with the physician-patient privilege. These dosages are restricted to be taken a certain amount of time apart, which also means that any woman who is traveling some amount of distance (see bill requirement #4) would have to either make two round trips to a provider or have financial ability to secure a hotel room during the duration of their stay. As I mentioned above, our providers here in El Paso have their own private medical practice. This requirement in and of itself would essentially limit these physicians ability to perform their jobs in other capacities..i.e. assist in high-risk LIVE births! If a physician is waiting around with patients all day so that they can take these pills, what will their other patients do? How will these physicians run successful private practices and give women comprehensive OB/GYN care?

4. All licensed abortion providers must upgrade to Ambulatory Surgical Centers. Ahh, Here we go. The biggest, most brilliantly crafted lie in the entire piece of legislation. I've heard it time and time again from both the GOP and its "pro-life" supporters - THIS WILL PROTECT WOMEN AND MAKE THESE SERVICES SAFER. Okay then. Let's examine that. In the state of Texas, there have been exactly 5 maternal fatalities since 2000 in abortion procedures, all previous to 2008. This was given in testimony on #HB2 in the committee hearings by the Texas Health & Human Services Director. So WHY exactly are we making these facilities safer? I'd like to offer up the point that the maternal fatality rate from actual live-births is 8 per 100,000. Do the math on that. There are far more women who die in live births than in abortion procedures in this state. And what sorts of things must be upgraded? Separate locker & showers for male/female employees, fancy janitor closets, upgraded ventilation systems, backup generators and wider hallways. Who exactly is profiting from these upgrades?

I've also been reminded time and time again of the horrific conditions of Kermit Gosnell in PA and the fact that wider hallways would have saved women in his clinic. But let's talk about Gosnell for a minute. Because quite honestly, the comparison is important to examine. In PA, there was such a level of government fear of OVER-REGULATION of the abortion facilities that it ultimately led to a dangerous level of under-sight. The clinics hadn't been inspected since 1993. Dr. Gosnell was performing VERY late term abortions (beyond Texas' current 24w ban) and the overwhelming number of women receiving treatment from Dr. Gosnell were low-income, non-insured, undocumented immigrants who were residing in Philadelphia and it was told, were often saving for months to be able to afford the procedure and that's what ultimately led to their later term procedures. This sort of scenario is unheard of in the state of Texas.

WHY? Because Texas' abortion providers are inspected annually. Every single year, like clockwork, an unannounced visit from the TX HHSC is performed on each of the providers. Ambulatory services on the other hand? Every 3yrs. C'mon now-- think about this! What the legislature actually did was make abortion providers' oversight even LESS STRINGENT.But I guess you're right, at least the locker rooms will be bad-ass.

Its been estimated time and time again that retrofitting existing clinics will cost an approximate 1.4 million dollars. If those facilities' structures do not allow for existing retrofitting, then new facilities will have to be built at a cost of somewhere between 3-8mil for a 4 surgical suite, 4,000sq.ft. facility. In El Paso it should be pointed out-- the clinics here will not upgrade. I'll tell you what will happen. They'll move to Santa Teresa or Sunland Park. NEW MEXICO, THE LAND OF ABORTION ENCHANTMENT. While I'm simultaneously glad that women will most likely have this option, its also extremely frustrating that the state of Texas is forcing Texas women into this predicament. New Mexico has very few restrictions on abortion. No late term abortion requirements, no mandated parental involvement, no restrictions on public funding, no sonogram laws..none of that.

This situation is particularly unique to El Paso, and we're lucky that we probably will have another option but the women of the Rio Grande Valley, or the panhandle aren't so "lucky." These women really will loose all access to SAFE abortion services. Look no further than the Bloomberg report  regarding black market pharmaceutical sales in McAllen flea markets (a similar report was published in the New York Times) for evidence of an already present dangerous black market in the world of women's reproductive health. The World Health Organization estimates that over 5,000 women died annually in the US pre-Roe v. Wade. In limiting or outlawing access to safe medical care, you are essentially endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands of Texas women.

Pro Life?

Now, the truth of the matter-- let's call a spade a spade here. The pro-life movement is hypocritical in nature. Let's call it what it is, its an Anti-Abortion movement. Look no further than the absolutely hypocritical Letter to the Editor published in the El Paso Times on 07/16 for evidence of this. The author closes his letter with this..

 "Our liberal friends seem very concerned about the rights of illegal immigrants and welfare deadbeats, but have little problem with ending the lives of our most vulnerable." - Wendell Clark; East El Paso

 There is little that is pro-life about this movement. I am unsure of whether the author of the above letter grasps the concept that children born to mothers who are unprepared financially or mentally for their children will actually be those "welfare deadbeats" and "illegal immigrants" (KVIA.com sites that 30% of all procedures performed in El Paso are on women seeking safe treatment from Juarez, MX) If it were truly pro-life, they would oppose the death penalty, women would have unlimited access to sexual education and low-cost/no-cost contraceptives. We would expand head-start programs or expanded daycare subsidies (current El Paso URGWF CCS waitlist is 2yrs for daycare subsidy). We would expand state Medicare coverage to mothers post-partum so that their mental care is taken into consideration. Texas is the nationwide leader in minimum wage jobs, 63% of those earners are women. Instead of expanding and protecting women in their wage earnings, Rick Perry vetoed the Lilly Ledbetter act that would have offered protection to women under an equal pay for equal work clause.

They are not pro-life. They are about forcing a very limited, non-complex faith based view upon a very very complex situation. 

I will never convince those who believe abortion is morally wrong. Hell, I don't think I could ever have an abortion. But I certainly understand the realities of life. Women will have abortions whether they are legal or not. I don't want to encourage abortions. I don't want more abortions to happen. I think that Texas needs to truly re-examine how it approaches sexual health and sexual education so that we can reduce the abortion rate in the state of Texas overall. But I certainly, definitely-- believe that if a woman is going to seek out an abortion that it should be safe and accessible. That doctor should be subject to licensing requirements and safety oversights. If there is a problem, it should be addressed. But right now? There is no problem. The only problem, as I see it, is the overzealous right wing attack on the most private and personal moments in a woman's life-- a decision that should always be left to personal conscious, family and physician.

In opposition to HB2

The following is the testimony I intended to give on my opposition to HB2 in the Texas House on July 2, 2013. I was never called, because at midnight over 1,014 people remained to testify-- despite some of us traveling far distances-- in my case, 9hrs. I can only request that the Senate version of the bill be heard around the state so that people in far-reaching communities have the ability to speak. I know now that I will never have the opportunity, because I must travel back home. 

Standing with Wendy...

People often ask me--or wonder, perhaps-- why I didn't have an abortion when I became pregnant with Elliot. Its a personal and private story that only a few in my close, personal circle really know about. Today's attack on Wendy Davis by Gov. Perry just made me feel all the more angry with the man who clearly has absolutely no understanding of the millions of women across this great state and I feel the need to finally share what my experience was like.

When I became pregnant with Elliot, it was clear very very early on that I would be raising him as a single mother. In fact, my short relationship with D had essentially ended a few weeks before I even discovered the pregnancy. D requested that I terminate the pregnancy. I considered his request, which was-- the LOGICAL thing to do in our situation. I agonized for hours and days and I thought about so many things. My lack of health insurance or financial means to raise him, the fact that I was in Austin and my family was across the state in El Paso. On one hand, if I aborted him I would have the social stigma of abortion over my head. On the other hand, I would be labeled an irresponsible woman who had a child out of wedlock and now required special medical assistance from the state. It was like staring down the barrel of a gun.  None of it made sense. But in the end, I knew I already loved him. I knew deep down that I wanted my child and I would make whatever sacrifices necessary to do so. I quit my job, I moved across the state and back in with my mom. I left my entire life that I knew in order to make a better life for my child. I was lucky. I had the unwavering support of my entire family.

Many women aren't so lucky. Many women aren't in a position to drop everything they've ever worked towards to raise a child. Many women are living in violent relationships or already have several children that they care for. Many women have been raped. The comments of Rick Perry-- to suggest that "it's just unfortunate that she hasn't learned from her own example" is marginalizing the lives, circumstances and experiences of ALL women. EVERYWHERE. I can tell you exactly how many women have had abortions without feeling panic, sadness and weighing out their choices very very carefully. The number is exactly 0. You know how I know? Because I've been there. My friend Kristyn, who very very much wanted and adored her unborn baby girl has been there.What Gov. Perry is essentially saying is that he knows more about what we go through as women than he does. That we are so dense and callous that we do not understand or recognize the consequences of our actions.

Today, I live in El Paso, Tx. I live in the very community that has the most at stake in this battle. The West Texas frontier would essentially lose the last access to abortion healthcare within a 10hr drive, if we were to stay in-state and 4hr drive if we travel to neighboring New Mexico. We already lost access to Planned Parenthood when the state defunded them in 2008. The county with one of the highest Texas Medicaid rates, a burden that the taxpayers of the state carry-- essentially took away all cost-effective methods of birth control to women so that they would never have to resort to an abortion in the first place and now they would like to restrict access to the last abortion clinic in all of West Texas.. Think about that for a minute. What the Governor has failed to recognize in his political ploy is that in closing abortion clinics in the state of Texas or restricting abortion to 20w gestation--he has pushed the women into the arms of Albuquerque, a 4hr drive from El Paso, that has absolutely zero restriction on abortion and legally allows it up to the day of birth. Here's where things get murky. Here's where things get gruesome. In his ploy to protect the Women of Texas, to save his own political agenda, he is actually promoting and encouraging the incredibly unsafe practices that he claims to want to stop. How is this protecting women? Why do women need protecting from our lawmakers? Are we not capable of protecting ourselves?

Though I did not choose to have an abortion, I am grateful I had the choice. I'm grateful to have Elliot in my life. And to tell Wendy Davis that she should have learned from her experiences, is to make light of the mere concept of CHOICE to begin with.  I will stand with Wendy. I will stand with the marginalized, uninsured, low-income women of my community so that every single one of them has access to equitable and accessible women's healthcare. Will you stand with Wendy too?

I know most parents probably have more than five moments a day where they look at their children and think "HOLY SHIT, MY KID IS THE SMARTEST MOTHERFUCKER THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI." Well, I can only assume this to be the case. Because this is what I do while playing with elliot on a daily basis. He has recently discovered his thumb. Up to this point, I never realized that this habit was picked up so early in babyhood. My child, not even four months old, has isolated his thumb, people. He has also figured out exactly how to twirl that ball on his jumperoo and laughs and flails his hands and legs uncontrollably in the bathtub. I would have never in my wildest dreams imagined myself in this place a year ago. A year ago I was preparing for a harried week at SXSW, taking down my Christmas tree in March, hastily sweeping the floor and cleaning the toilet so it didn't look quite as disgusting for the slew of houseguests that were about to descend upon my corner of the globe. Last year at this time, I was working in a restaurant, drinking margaritas on a nightly basis, and going to sleep at 6am. Now I am completely estatic when he doesn't scream his head off during "tummy time." But really, with a face like this--how could your world not be cosmically correct?

Trials and Baby Tribulations

I keep a blog of sorts. I have since I was 18, on livejournal. But i feel like i should perhaps move my mommy rants onto a new forum. Technically, my mommy rants are pretty much my only rants recently. Elliot just takes so much of my time and each and every day i'm enjoying him more and more. you hear people say that when they see their babies they instantly fall in love? well, sure-- i instantly fell in love with elliot, but it has taken me a while to LIKE him. the first month and a half were extremely exhausting and traumatic for me. hormones attacked me, he was nawing my boobs away on a two hourly basis and i felt guilty because i still wanted to hang out with my dog more than i wanted to spend time with elliot. but then something happened. i became slowly addicted to him. and now it comforts me that i'm the only one that he will settle down for. like OMG he NEEDS me. and i, in turn, NEED him. its crazy how that happens.

so right now he's asleep on my shoulder (as he does for this mid-morning naps). and i'm surfing the internet for jobs. so perhaps i'll document my daily poopings, rashes, giggles and bath time. i also am interested in starting to do stitching or something into onesies. shit, i still need to finish up his christmas stocking.