Letter to the Editor: Murphy And Women's Health Care

To the Editor:

Recently, I wrote a letter to Senator Terrence Murphy asking him to support the Women’s Agenda in its entirety, included as part of Governor Cuomo’s original budget.

One particular point of the Women’s Agenda concerned the decriminalization of abortion by moving it out of the penal code and into public health law where it belongs. Because abortion currently remains in the penal code, a woman who finds out late in pregnancy that her health/life is at risk, or that the fetus is not viable is forced to leave New York State to find the care she needs. Instead of remaining in her home environment, surrounded and supported by caregivers and family members who are focused on her physical, mental and emotional health and well being, she must overcome onerous restrictions in the midst of a devastating medical emergency.

In Mr. Murphy’s response to my letter he states, “Rest assured that no matter what my personal beliefs may be, I will always follow the letter of the law. As you pointed out, abortion is legal. I am on the record, both as a state Senator and as a health care professional, as saying that the laws already in place regarding women’s reproductive health will not be changed in New York State. I am simply not in favor of expanding those laws.”

Inherent in Mr. Murphy’s statement is his failure to grasp the concept that moving abortion into public health law does not expand the law, but rather codifies the law, bringing it in line with the constitutional standard established by the passing of Roe v Wade.

Mr. Murphy brands himself a “healthcare professional,” yet his purposeful ignorance demonstrates a lack of understanding of what the nature of abortion is, which is HEALTH CARE, not a crime.

In New York State, the state of women’s healthcare is at a standstill. Until Senator Murphy no longer uses his personal beliefs to absolve himself of having to devote intelligent, compassionate thoughtfulness towards the understanding of the current law and women’s health care, he will never truly stand with women.

Elise-Ann Konstantin, Cortlandt Manor