Citizens for Health Monitors Senate Omnibus Bill for Threats to New Mothers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Frank Herd, Jr. 888.774.2255

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 30, 2008 –  Last week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) slipped a controversial bill, called The MOTHERS Act into an omnibus bill entitled "Advancing America's Priorities Act" (S. 3297).  The MOTHERS Act is based on a law first passed in New Jersey and proposes grants to provide new mothers increased education on postpartum depression, access to screenings, and information about treatment and services in their communities. The bill also proposes grants to health care providers, purportedly to facilitate the delivery of healthcare to those suffering from postpartum depression. 

The original bill, sponsored by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), languished for months in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee until Senator Reid used the questionable strategy of adding it to a larger bill in order to move it more quickly.

Citizens for Health (CFH), the voice of the natural health consumer, has been keenly watching the bill’s progress in order to take action at a moment’s notice if such basic rights as the rights to informed consent, and to make one’s own health choices, were threatened. 

“At Citizens for Health, we are dedicated to ensuring that consumers have access to a full range of health care options; that they can decide what health care providers they want to see and what vitamins and supplements they want to put into their bodies; and that they have the information they need to make their own health choices,” said Executive Director, Frank Herd, Jr.  “To that end, we supported the bill’s stated intent to educate new mothers about potential postpartum health issues. However, while there is no language in the bill that requires screenings, we were concerned that the bill also lacks language ensuring that mothers will be fully educated on the risks – as well as the benefits – of any proposed treatments. It is essential that a new mother is informed of all available treatment alternatives (including holistic choices) if she fears she is, or is discovered to be, at risk for any form of postpartum illness.”   

CFH’s legal staff reviewed the bill to assess any potential threats to such basic rights as the rights to privacy and informed consent. The organization is weighing possible next steps and is ready to mobilize its over 90,000 members for a grassroots response, if necessary.

Herd, Jr added, “On Monday an attempt to invoke cloture and bring the bill to a vote failed, and Senator Reid’s office has said that the bill is dead – for now. Citizens for Health will remain stalwart in its defense of the rights of health consumers, including women, and we will work diligently to stop any infringements on those rights, legislative or otherwise. While we believe truthful, non-misleading information is necessary if one is to make one’s own health choices, we strongly oppose using the stated intent of informing the public as a smoke screen for steering new mothers toward dangerous, anti-psychotic drugs without informing them of all available alternatives.”