NYC pulls law requiring fetuses aborted after 24 weeks to be considered 'human remains' for funeral
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The New York City Department of Health has been thrashed online after it changed a rule that required fetuses aborted at or after 24 weeks treated as “human remains”.
Earlier, it was mandatory to send late-term aborted fetuses to funeral homes so that they could be buried or cremated, as reported by The New York Post.
Mayor Eric Adams’ health team says aborted fetuses do not require burial
A department summary of the rule change mentioned, “The Department is proposing to amend the Health Code Articles 203 and 205 to eliminate the requirement that any conceptus that has completed 24 or more weeks of gestation be disposed of as human remains.”
“Disposition as human remains would remain available upon request by those who desire burial or cremation,” it added.
However, abortion opponents have criticized the move as Jeaane Head, a retired registered nurse, reportedly shared, “This is horrible. They’re treating human beings like trash. It’s infanticide. They don’t want mothers to know they killed their baby.”
Officials justify scrapping NY's fetus law
The department’s chief epidemiologist Gretchen Van Wye supported the decision in a recent meeting. “This is inequitable. It’s costly. People need to call a funeral director … and pay for a burial or cremation. It’s very traumatic for people. This is a matter we don’t think the government needs to be involved in. This is something for the patient and provider to talk about,” Wye added.
Also, DOH spokesman Patrick Gallahue stated, “This is about an individual’s medical decision and removing a burdensome and costly requirement from the health code. How someone decides to proceed after making such a personal medical decision should not be dictated by the government.”
Dr Erinma Ukoha, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in New York, supported the move. She noted, “I applaud New York City’s leadership in responding to the real needs of people accessing later abortion care. The NYC Board of Health’s decision to remove the burdensome, inequitable disposition requirement for people accessing later abortion care is an important step in the right direction.”
Internet says scrapping fetus law is 'devaluing life'
Social media users were not happy with the decision. One user said, “Yep. Devaluing life. I'm glad I was conceived before Roe v Wade. My heart aches for the 63 million plus fetuses aborted in the United States post-Roe. It is easy for us to debate pro-life vs pro-choice when we are physically here to do it as our mothers chose life. Choose Life.”
Another commented, “They can create any new word they want but the fact remains it’s a baby.”
One user said, “What Exactly is Long term Abortions? Women need to realize Abortion IS NOT BIRTH CONTROL!”
“What is wrong with people in NYC?!” one remarked.
The fifth one added, “This is so sick and deluded. They (including the Mayor) can claim all they want about caring for the children and all New York citizens in need, but this is NOT care, and this disregard for human life may someday reach beyond the womb to other persons whose lives may be disregarded because they interfere with ‘reproductive freedom.’”
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
