Want an abortion in California? If a new law passes, a doctor will not even be necessary.
Bill AB 154 has passed both houses of the state legislature, and currently sits on Gov. Jerry Brown's desk, where he is expected to sign it into law. The bill strips the requirement that an abortion be performed by a licensed physician or surgeon. Instead, a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or physician assistant would be allowed to do a suction aspiration or medical abortion on a woman.
A suction aspiration abortion is when a vacuum is inserted into a woman's cervix and removes the contents of the uterus.
Suction aspiration abortions are not without controversy. Brian Johnston, president of California Pro-Life Council, said that even former abortionists have spoken out against the technique.
“The founder of National Abortion Rights Action League, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, who subsequently became pro-life, says that vacuum aspiration abortion is inherently dangerous to the mother, as the physician must blindly probe for the baby.”
The bill has been endorsed by the California Medical Association, and has been strongly supported by abortion advocates.
In California, if an animal needs an abortion, the procedure must be carried out by a licensed veterinary surgeon. It appears now that the State of California views humans as deserving a lower standard of care than a housecat.