01/28/01 07:23 PM: Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark. intends

Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark. intends to introduce legislation that would cut the number of physicians able to prescribe RU-486 by at least 80 percent. Said legislation would only allow RU-486 to be prescribed by doctors that are trained in surgical abortions. That would negate one of the major benefits of the pill. Currently, it can be prescribed by family physicians if they have a surgical abortion provider available in case of emergency. One of the upsides to the pill is that women do not have to risk being harassed (or injured) at an abortion clinic to get it. They can get it from someone that they already know and trust (not that abortion clinics are unwtrustworthy). This piece of legislation is chock full of regression and oppression. And there are also those who doubt the safety of RU-486. It’s been available in Europe since the 80s, and it made the cut after 12 years of FDA testing. Give it a break.

It looks like I’m not the only one concerned about the separation of church and state. It seemed to be the topic of every CNN show today. Go figure.

Kevin Peliusczak