According to a report today at the Weekly Standard‘s blog, a lobbyist for the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates argued, in a hearing with Florida legislators, in favor of a right to “abort” a baby born alive as a result of a failed abortion. In other words, if an abortion results in a child born alive, then the decision whether to let him or her continue to live must be left with the mother and her doctor. Here is a part of the exchange as reported by the Standard:
Saint Joseph with the Infant Jesus, by Guido Reni, c.1635“So, um, it is just really hard for me to even ask you this question because I’m almost in disbelief,” said Rep. Jim Boyd. “If a baby is born on a table as a result of a botched abortion, what would Planned Parenthood want to have happen to that child that is struggling for life?”
“We believe that any decision that’s made should be left up to the woman, her family, and the physician,” said Planned Parenthood lobbyist Snow.
Rep. Daniel Davis then asked Snow, “What happens in a situation where a baby is alive, breathing on a table, moving. What do your physicians do at that point?”
“I do not have that information,” Snow replied. “I am not a physician, I am not an abortion provider. So I do not have that information.”
Rep. Jose Oliva followed up, asking the Planned Parenthood official, “You stated that a baby born alive on a table as a result of a botched abortion that that decision should be left to the doctor and the family. Is that what you’re saying?”
Again, Snow replied, “That decision should be between the patient and the health care provider.”
The Standard‘s report includes an excerpt from the video, as well as a link to the whole video of the hearing at the website of the Civil Justice Committee of the Florida House of Representatives.