My dislike of this is the broad scope of it. I mean, it would probably result in having every single person involved (doctor to the tool sterilizer) to certify that they are comfortable with a procedure. I mean, from that point alone, it makes it a bureaucratic nightmare, but it also increases the odds that one person will disagree with the procedure and therefore prevent it. Which is the point, I think.

Here's another petition I found on Facebook

http://pol.moveon.org/contraception/?rc=fb.cnota

You're welcome :) The Facebook group has 41k+ members, up over a thousand people since I made my last comment. Word is really getting out there :D

Done and done. Thanks for keeping us abreast of things so that we can do our part!

Either way, you're doing something and spreading the word about what's going on. That's important. I'll do my part now and pass on the information.

Here's the bill in all its glory:

45 CFR Part 88

I find having the words on hand lends extra venom to responses.

The bill itself directs "electronic comments" to go through Regulations.gov, so if anyone wants to go that extra mile, that option is open.

One way that can help is citing the specific broadening of words like "sterlization procedures" so that it is not left vague. Telling government officials to change something gives them wiggle room and leaves them asking "What something?" and a terrifying space to rewrite and claim compliance. If we can call them on a specific word or phrase, they have all the wiggle room of a steel box.

Go for it! Inform that public! :)

This bothers me on quite a few levels. To get personal about it:

1. I am a rape survivor. The thought of not being able to seek emergency contraception is very scary. It's difficult enough for women to come forward and seek medical help after trauma without having to fight health care workers for our reproductive rights. Had that been an option for me at the time, I'd have taken it.
(Campus policy at the time: if you were under 21, you could not be given any forms of birth control or be treated without parents' written permission.)

2. I had a tubal ligation after the birth of my second child, in my early twenties, because I made a well-informed decision that took into consideration my economic status, prior pregnancy complications and post-partum depression, etc. I saw little point in continuing to take birth control pills when I had no intention of having more children. My OB/GYN at the time cautioned me that I might change my mind later on, and desire to have a larger family. However, he respected my desire to be able to provide for the family I already had before considering adding another child. With a food-allergic toddler and an infant at home, the choice was clearcut for me.

Pro-choice does not mean anti-family or anti-life. It means not signing away our rights to

So, so much agreed, as another Australian very much afraid that our country might mimic the US and we'd lose our rights.

Yeah, that would be horrible.

I can see the limits being tightened...but not on men. They'd likely still be able to get vasectomies. Because it has been a matter of recent history that women have had to get permission for, say, a tubal ligation, in case their partner wanted babies, while men could just go out and get one with not even questions about 'what if your wife wants children?'.

Unfortunately it seems that not all petitions are open to us foreigners, but I've signed the ones I can. A voice from elsewhere might not count much in the long run, but it's another name on the list of people who don't support it.

Good to know :)

When it comes to things like this, it's not really just a case of Women's Rights, but human rights, because someone is trying to decide they know what's best for our bodies without our input. It would have the same effect on me if it were enabling practitioners to deny some other form of procedure or medication because of their own religious beliefs.

(If that's not coherent, I apologise - my brain still thinks it's only 4:30am despite it being two hours later in actuality)

Wholeheartedly in agreement with that!

I'll work to remember that, Tammy.

All three have been signed. May I link in my journal?