slim Who survived Abortions Democrats tried in the Senate to block a bill protecting babies born alive under similar circumstances.
“The fact that Democrats continue to block this is a vote against it,” said Melissa Oden, founder of the Abortion Survivors Network. Fox News Digital. “We are not treated as human beings. We are simply treated as pawns in a game of political chess.”
Priscilla Hurley, another abortion survivor who once worked in the abortion industry, told Fox News Digital she was disappointed but not surprised that Democrats rejected the bill.
“Under the 'baby born' bill, doctors who perform these late-term abortions can no longer walk away from it if the baby is born alive,” Hurley said. “They have to provide care, and people around them have to report it if they don't. There's an accountability factor that the abortion industry generally doesn't have. So it's not surprising that those who are in bed with the abortion industry vote the way they do.”
Melissa Oden, founder and executive director of the Abortion Survivors Network, speaks during a news conference about the Abortion Survivors Protection Act Born at the Capitol on January 23, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The law, passed at home, requires doctors to provide health care to save… Life for infants born after a failed abortion attempt. (Getty Images)
Abortion survivor details the 'trauma' she experienced: 'You're cutting off generations of people'
Senate Democrats banned The Birthright Abortion Survivors Protection Act was set to advance in the chamber on Wednesday. This measure would require health care practitioners to endeavor to save the life of an infant born during an attempted abortion, and to ensure that the infant is admitted to hospital.
Living infants Attempted abortion They are already afforded equal protection under a federal law passed in 2002. However, according to the pro-life Charles Luzier Institute, the federal law “does not contain any requirements that abortion survivors be provided with appropriate care or transported to a hospital and have no enforcement mechanism if the law is violated.”
Under the “baby born” bill, a health care practitioner who failed to provide a required degree of care to a child who survives a miscarriage, or one who failed to report could face up to five years in prison.
Democrats argued that the bill was unnecessary, given existing laws against infanticide and murder, and could endanger the lives of women seeking late-term abortions due to medical emergencies while unfairly penalizing doctors.
Abortion rights activists gather at the Washington Monument before a march to the US Supreme Court in Washington, May 14, 2022. (Jose Luis Magaña/AFP via Getty Images)
Abortion survivors disagree, calling such protections a human rights issue that should not be politicized.
Ohden, who survived after an attempt Abortion is a money infusion In 1977, he supported the Birthright Abortion Survivors Protection Act as Republicans had proposed over the previous decade. The bill has been repeatedly blocked by Democrats in previous Congresses.
She was disgusted with A Social media post By Senator Chuck Schumer, D-N.
“Doctors are already required to provide appropriate medical care by law. Republicans are trying to get between women and their doctors,” Schumer posted on X, alongside a video criticizing the bill.
Ohden found Schumer and others' comments “disrespectful” and “dehumanizing” toward those who survive abortion.
“It's very clear that they want us to remain silent. They want us to feel ashamed and isolated,” she said.
Senator Schumer posted a video on social media explaining his opposition to the “birther” bill, calling Republican claims about protecting babies born alive after abortion, “that's not true.” (Getty Images)
Abortion survivors call Democrats' mass opposition to birthright bill 'shock and disgust'
Hurley added, “I just pray that their eyes will be opened to the truth.”
“I don't think they actually take the time, frankly, to talk to people and listen to the facts because they're just protecting doctors. They call it women's health care, which has nothing to do with it. It's about human rights.
Ohden believes there is not enough awareness that abortion survivors exist. Her group, the Abortion Survivors Network, has more than 900 members, and she personally believes the actual number of abortion survivors is much higher with the prevalence of chemical abortions today. She pointed out Recent study In the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, they found 11% of second-trimester abortions resulted in live births.
Both abortion survivors called the measure “commons legislation” that ensures that children who survive miscarriages are given the same level of medical care as any other child born in that pregnancy.
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On Thursday, House Republicans Pass their own version From the “current born” bill. Every Democrat voted against it.
Bill co-sponsor Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ma, celebrated its passage.
“This should not be a controversial issue,” she said in Miracles of Life, “but rest assured that we will continue to fight in Congress to make sure statement.
“This is not a partisan issue, but House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. It is outrageous that Senate Democrats voted on Lockstep to block consideration of this life-saving bill. “
Senator Schumer's office did not return a request for comment.
Alex Nitzberg and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
