PRESS MEMO: Background on HB 346, an Inflammatory Anti-Reproductive Health Bill
For Immediate Release: Feb. 14, 2023
On Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear HB 346, a so-called “born alive” bill, at 9 am. In advance, we want to clarify what this bill would actually do and the serious impact it could have on Granite State families and providers.
HB 346’s False Claims:
It is important to be clear upfront: HB 346 is not an abortion bill. Instead, this bill threatens health care providers who need the ability to provide the most appropriate and compassionate end of life neonatal care for families in the most devastating moments of their lives: knowing their newborn will not survive, no matter what futile treatments a provider may perform.
HB 346, a so-called “born alive” bill based on model legislation from out-of-state interests, pushes a false narrative about reproductive health care for political purposes. Harm to anyone, including a newborn, is already illegal. The misleading claim that infants are being left to die by doctors is completely false, offensive, and dangerous.
HB 346’s Harmful Impact on Patients and Providers:
While the intent of this inflammatory bill is to drive a false narrative about abortion care, HB 346 could cause real harm to patients and providers.
This bill could force parents to have their infant undergo invasive and futile medical procedures which could deny families who are grieving the loss of their child the ability to choose the compassionate care that’s best for them, as well as religious rites and sacraments. Families deserve to be able to decide what is best for them in these tragic situations.
In 2022, the Legislature made the critical and necessary decision to give women and families more options when facing these devastating decisions by allowing for a fatal fetal diagnoses exception to New Hampshire’s current 24-week abortion ban. The passage of HB 346 could harm the very people who make the decision to continue with their pregnancy knowing they will not be leaving the hospital with their newborn.
HB 346 criminalizes the practice of safe and compassionate medicine by ignoring the medical decision process related to early labor and neonatal resuscitation and neonatal hospice - situations that are complex and heartbreaking. Doctors providing care under these complicated circumstances need to be able to provide each individual patient with the best medical care. Instead, this bill threatens doctors with criminal penalties.
HB 346 is Opposed by Medical Professionals:
When this same legislation was considered in 2021, Dr. Oge Young, a retired New Hampshire obstetrician-gynecologist, penned an op-ed, titled “Born Alive” bill does not protect anyone,” in which he explains the impact this bill could have: “If it becomes law, doctors would be forced to take these nonviable babies from their parents and make futile efforts to save a baby they cannot save. The statute would deny families in these tragic situations the small amount of time they have to hold their babies. Physicians might be charged with a serious crime, while providing love and empathy, and appropriate hospice care.”
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Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is the largest provider of reproductive and sexual health care across the State of New Hampshire. We serve New Hampshire residents through 5 health centers in Derry, Exeter, Keene, Manchester and White River Junction, VT. Last year we saw more than 10,000 patients at these sites. PPNNE was named a 2021 and 2022 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices.
Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.