Pro-Life and Pro-Family:

As a Pro-family and Pro-life nurse trained in bioethics, endorsed by the Kentucky Right to Life Association, Northern Kentucky Right to Life and Family First Foundation, I will not waiver in the defense , protection and constant support of:

• The dignity of human life from conception to natural death;
• The personhood and dignity of the human embryo - seeking; legislative bans on fetal stem cell tissue and human cloning;
• Marriage between a man and woman

Pro-Life and Pro-Family Legislation

HB 489 “Women’s Health and Protection of Life Act” Abortion Ban
HB 490 “Women's Right to Know Act 2006” Informed Consent

Below are a few of my reflections on the issue and the intent of the bills Thanks again for the support, Addia…

As you may have already heard, I am sponsoring two bills: HB 489 “Women’s Health and Protection of Life Act” Abortion Ban and HB 490 “Women’s Right to Know Act 2006”. Both bills rise out of the fact that the Commonwealth of Kentucky has an interest and duty to protect every citizens intrinsic rights, most importantly the right to life. This duty includes protecting the pregnant woman's natural intrinsic right to a relationship with her child, her right to make a truly informed decision based on contemporary science, and the protection of her health and that of the unborn child.

For too many women abortions is the result of a less than fully informed consent and dated scientific findings.

In 1973, The United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Roe v Wade 4106.5113, the decision that legalized abortion in this country. At that time, our nation had no experience of any significant duration or extent with legal abortion from which reliable judgments or conclusions could be reached. Thirty-years later, extensive data exist about how legalized abortion has affected the lives, interest, rights, and health of women.

At the time the Roe Court made its opinion, the Court did not have the benefit of the current knowledge of science and medicine or the information obtained from the experience of women who have undergone abortions over the past thirty-years.

Through the knowledge gained from the advances of human biological sciences and medicine over the last thirty-years and the experience of women who have undergone abortion procedures, it is clear that the assumptions made concerning detriment of the women subject to the procedure by the Roe Court are incorrect.

The procedure of terminating the life of an unborn child imposes risk to the life of the pregnant mother including risk of: depression, suicide, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, hemorrhage, and infection. Additionally, the termination of the life of her unborn child for which she has a constitutionally protected right to relationship, may have long term emotional/psychological effects on the woman.

I. Issue of Human Identity

Dr. David Fu-Chi Mark, PhD., and Molecular Biologist empirically states, "Over the past twenty-five years there have been extraordinary scientific, medical and technological advances and discoveries which now expose the rather rudimentary level of knowledge and ignorance of science, errors of fact and judgment concerning past scientific understanding of the child's existence as a human being."

- Contemporary human biological science recognizes that from the time the human ovum is fertilized, a new human life begins which is neither that of the mother nor the father but rather a new whole and unique human being
- New recombinant DNA technologies and other medical and scientific advances over the past twenty-five years confirm this fact

II. Issue of Informed Consent

It is generally accepted that individuals should consider the risks and potential benefits stemming from their decisions. Informed consent is a patients right to be presented with sufficient factual information that would allow them to make an informed decision.
Informed consent requires that medical doctors provide a patient with all relevant information about a proposed procedure or treatment prior to performing the procedure.

These are a few guidelines taken from the American Medical Association's website.

• The patient's diagnosis, if known;
• The nature and purpose of a proposed treatment or procedure;
• The risks and benefits of a proposed treatment or procedure;
• Alternatives (regardless of their cost or the extent to which the treatment options are covered by health insurance);
• The risks and benefits of the alternative treatment or procedure; and

The risks and benefits of not receiving or undergoing a treatment or procedure.

Informed consent protects the patient by providing complete information on which to make an informed decision.

The actual policy as found on the AMA's website:

H-140.989 Informed Consent and Decision-Making in Health Care
Health care professionals should inform patients or their surrogates of their clinical impression or diagnosis; alternative treatments and consequences of treatments, including the consequence of no treatment; and recommendations for treatment. Full disclosure is appropriate in all cases, except in rare situations in which such information would, in the opinion of the health care professional, cause serious harm to the patient.

III. Interest of the Mother and the Relationship with Her Child

The relationship of mother (parent) and child is typically protected. In the case of adoption on voluntary surrender of parental rights or a mother desiring to terminate her right to relationship with her child must be expressed in a written consent and/or petition to terminate the voluntary parental rights.


KRS 625.042 The best interest of the child shall be considered paramount......

At the time of the hearing, the Circuit Court, after full and complete inquiry, shall determine whether each petitioner is fully aware of the purpose of the proceeding and the consequences of the provisions of the chapter

Education

I believe that while children make up approximately twenty-five (25%) of the general population, however they represent a hundred (100%) the future. We have great schools in Boone County , but education must remain a top priority. From early learning - to life long learning opportunities, we must ensure the resources for our children's future. They need and deserve strong teachers and strong schools. As your State Representative I committed to the continual improvement of our education system that will provide our children the opportunity they deserve to succeed in the future

Healthcare

Boone Countians and all Kentuckians deserve high quality and affordable healthcare. Working families, state employees, teachers, and business owners must have relief from skyrocketing insurance premiums. Everyone should be able to choose the health plan that meets their needs, at a price that is affordable. High quality care comes when people have a choice of health plans. We need to restore competition to the health insurance market in Kentucky .

Boone County and Economic Development

Out of the 120 counties comprising the Commonwealth of Kentucky , we are one of four counties (Boone, Jefferson, Fayette, and Kenton) responsible for half the revenue. Simply stated, Boone County is one of the strongest economic engines driving the Kentucky economy. Yet, despite this fact we only get back .29 for every dollar sent to Frankfort .

I believe that ending government inefficiency will in turn increase the percentage of tax dollars that ultimately come back to Boone County . Once this goal is met, we can invest in our infrastructure, thereby further stimulating Boone County and Northern Kentucky economic development. Such growth will invariably benefit the state as a whole. If we as citizens of Boone County must pay taxes, then we must get our fair share back. I am committed to keeping Boone County on Frankfort 's radar screen and fighting to right this economic inequity.