VA Legislator Seeking Law Which Would Imprison Women for Miscarriage!

Thanks for the heads up talentshow


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/6/194434/1328

Republican Delegate to the 78th District (Virginia), John Cosgrove, is pushing a bill that would force women who miscarry a pregnancy, at ANY level of development, to report their miscarriage to a law enforcement agency within 12 hours of the miscarriage. Failure to do so would be a Class 1 Misdemeanor, punishable by one year in jail and $2,500 fine. (Other Class 1 Misdemeanors in VA include arson, stalking, statutory rape and concealed carry of a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.)

In Virginia, state law requires that abortions be reported, but a woman undergoing abortion need only be identified by a patient number, thus preserving her privacy. A woman reporting a fetal death (miscarriage) must provide the state with the following information:
# place of occurrence
# usual residence of patient (mother)
# full maiden name of patient
# medical record number and social security number of patient
# Hispanic origin, if any, and race of patient
# age of patient
# education of patient
# sex of fetus
# patient married to father
# previous deliveries to patient
# single or plural delivery and order of plural delivery
# date of delivery
# date of last normal menses and physician's estimate of gestation
# weight of fetus in grams
# month of pregnancy care began (sic)
# number of prenatal visits
# when fetus died
# congenital malformations, if any
# events of labor and delivery
# medical history for this pregnancy
# other history for this pregnancy
# obstetric procedures and method of delivery
# autopsy
# medical certification of cause of spontaneous fetal death
# signature of attending physician or medical examiner including title, address and date signed
# method of disposal of fetus
# signature and address of funeral director or hospital representative
# date received by registrar
# registrar's signature
# registration area and report numbers

Since most fertilized eggs are sloughed off the uterine lining during a period, it's likely that many of your used tampons and pads contain evidence of "fetal death." Perhaps John Cosgrove, who clearly knows so much about what is best for Virginia's women, would appreciate the opportunity to help navigate you through your difficult time after your monthly potential fetal death. So send him your fetal death tainted tampons and pads, so that he might measure out the "weight of fetus in grams" for you in your difficult time. It'll keep you from being locked up for a year!

Del. John A Cosgrove
General Assembly Building, Room 416
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219