New York Times Examines New York City Bill To Protect Patients, Staff At Abortion Clinics

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 17 Dec 2008 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

The New York Times on Sunday examined a bill introduced by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn that aims to protect patients and staff at local health clinics that provide abortion services. The bill, introduced by Quinn in September, would protect patients and staff from "harassment by antiabortion activists who gather outside the clinics' doors," according to the Times. "You ask a lot of New Yorkers, they would say, 'This doesn't go on in our city, in New York,'" Quinn said, adding, "The truth is, it does."

Under the bill, third parties -- including clinic employees -- would be allowed to file charges against protestors. It also would "ease the burden of proof" that currently is needed to prosecute such charges, according to a City Council release. The bill has gained support in the council and likely will pass, possibly this week, the Times reports.

Quinn said that she began receiving phone calls from NARAL Pro-Choice New York about six months ago detailing how antiabortion advocates were focusing on a number of clinics in New York City boroughs outside Manhattan. One of the clinics was Dr. Emily's Women's Health Center in the Bronx, which has the highest ratio of abortions to pregnancies among all New York state counties. Antiabortion advocates for two years have gathered four times weekly -- on the days the clinic performs abortions -- and handed fliers with pictures of aborted fetuses to incoming patients, according to the Times. Many of the advocates are associated with Expectant Mother Care, a group that runs centers in New York City where women can access pregnancy tests, counseling and ultrasounds.

According to Chris Slattery, founder and president of Expectant Mother Care, the bill would "set a new low standard for the protection of First Amendment rights in America." He also said that volunteers working for the group do not harass patients. "Those of us who do sidewalk counseling, we do it with love and respect for these women," Slattery said, adding, "We don't block their paths. We don't use hostile body language."

The Times reports that "tensions between the Dr. Emily clinic and its opponents escalated" in September when "scores" of antiabortion advocates -- including nuns, friars and members of local churches -- "descended on the pavement for weeks of protests as part" of the 40 Days for Life campaign (Knafo, New York Times, 12/14).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2008 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

• Additional
• References
• Citations