"CHOICE" IN MASSACHUSETTS

 

 

 

David M. Bresnahan
February 24, 2006
NewsWithViews.com

Massachusetts, where liberals loudly defend the so-called “women’s right to choose,” seem to think they need to dictate to a woman how to feed a baby.

The Mass. Public Health Council, part of the state’s Dept. of Public Health, in December issued a ban preventing hospitals from giving samples of infant formula to new mothers as they go home with their babies. No other state bans the traditional gifts.

Why the ban? Because it is better for women to breast feed than to use formula.

I agree, and my wife and I chose to breast feed our four children. The benefits far outweigh the challenges associated with that choice, and we strongly recommend it to other parents. However, we do not believe it is the role of the government to get involved.

I strongly disagree with the methods used by Massachusetts bureaucrats who want to force mothers to behave the way they want. The solution is education and information, not a ban that will do nothing to promote breast feeding.

Republican Gov. Mitt Romney spoke out and succeeded in getting the Public Health Council to put a hold on the ban while they study the issue further.

"I'm not enthusiastic about the heavy arm of government coming in and saying: 'We think we know better than mothers, and we are going to decide for you,'" he told reporters.

In response to the concern expressed by Romney, the council voted on Tuesday to suspend their ban while they study the issue. They will make an new decision in May.

"We don't feel it is a good public health policy to give them out," said Anne Merewood, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine in a news report carried by Reuters. "New mothers are a vulnerable group and this is pure marketing.

She said allowing the formula to be given out by hospitals looks like the hospital is endorsing the use of the formula.

So, in other words, women are not capable of making a decision when it comes to feeding their infant but they are capable of deciding to murder their unborn child. If the state is going to give them the right to choose death for an unborn child then I do not understand the logic of why the state feels it must take away that right of choice when it comes to feeding a child who was fortunate enough to be born.

Of even greater concern is the ease with which unelected bureaucrats, who have absolutely no accountability to the public, manage to dictate public policy and even law.

Fortunately Romney spoke up. Between now and May the residents of Mass. need to make their voices heard in a big way or the Public Health Council will proudly declare that the public agrees with them and renew the ban.

© 2006 David M. Bresnahan - All Rights Reserved