feedNo Still Born Birth Certificates in New York (Yet)
I'm fond of saying that a stillbirth is still a birth, and that you cannot deny a mother's right (or a father's right) to the acknowledgment of a child simply because it never took in breath outside the womb. But abortion rights folks have their worries (and I think rightly so) about the movement to give some form of birth certificate for families of stillborn babies.
What's at stake: The ability of parents of stillborns to receive birth certificates for them. Advocates of legislation calling for the certificates say the documentation can help grieving parents by officially acknowledging the existence of their stillborn children. Opponents caution that it could open the door to abortion foes by calling into question when life begins and when a fetus is a person.It's a tricky business no matter what side of the debate you're on, but just because it's tricky doesn't mean we can ignore it.
The children in question are human beings, and while I'm not in favor of taking away a woman's right to choose, I'm strongly in favor of validating the parents of stillborn children that their baby, and their loss, is very very real. It's hard enough to come home to a house full of silence, and it only compounds the hardship by having a community full of silence as well.
You're welcome to comment here if you wish. Let compassion be your guide.
Listening to “Into The Mystic” by Van Morrison from the album Moondance on
Tags: birth | birthcertificate | bornstill | certificate | NY | compassion | stillbirth | stillborn.
