The Stupak-Pitts Amendment to the House of Representatives health reform plan, demonstrates once again that women's health issues are viewed as political rather then medical.
The Stupak-Pitts Amendment to the House of Representatives health reform plan, demonstrates once again that women's health issues are viewed as political rather then medical.
Why should poor women be denied proper coverage for pregnancy related health issues in a new "universal health plan"? The fact that a health issue unique to women( pregnancy), is not considered as a sufficient area of medicine to be covered, in it's entirety ,is absurd. Women suffer from disorders of pregnancy, miscarriage, missed abortion, complications of fertility treatments, etc. The entire field of obstetrics and Gynecology was created to deal with unique women's health issues. This ties the hands of Ob/Gyn specialists and places women in danger.
Supporters of the amendment claim that only poor women are impacted. There are nearly 20 million women living in poverty in the United States. Teenage pregnancy is on the rise and women are seeking care later in the course of disease due to economic reasons, exposing them to greater complications of gynecologic diseases. This group is at the highest risk for diseases that impact pregnancy.
The U.S. Congress needs to get this right. The Senate needs to correct this "miscarriage" of justice. If a health plan passes that continues to treat women as an after thought or a negotiating tool, then we have accomplished little for future generations.
Ben Graber, M.D. is an OB/GYN,( candidate for Fl-19, U.S. House)