MUSCLE SHOALS-Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, D from Red Bay hosted a public meeting on Monday, April 6th at 6 pm at the Muscle Shoals Career Academy to discuss Senate Bill 289 sponsored by Sen. Larry Stutts, R of Tuscumbia.
Family members of the law’s namesake, Rose Church were also in attendance.
Gene Church husband of Rose Church said he was sickened to learn that Sen.
REp. Johnny Mack Morow -D
Stutts tried to repeal the law. Several of the speakers at last nights meeting believe as Gene Church does that the effort by Sen Larry Stutts to repeal Rose’s Law was personal.
Stutts said in a statement last week he would withdraw the bill “….After careful consideration and feedback from my constituents, I realize this legislation isn’t the best vehicle to achieve the original intent. Therefore, I am withdrawing SB289 and am comfortable with it not being
Rep. Larry Stutts-R
considered in committee.
“Let me also say that neither the bill nor today’s decision is related to any patient case I have had during my medical career, despite media insinuations to the contrary. I am proud of my 25 years serving my community and state as an OB-GYN, and I look forward to continue serving them both as a medical doctor and senator.”
Sen. Stutts did not attend the meeting last night. The Quad Cities Daily has tried numerous times to contact Sen. Stutts to no avail, the latest being on Monday Morning April 6 about this bill and whether he would be attending the meeting.
Rep. Morrow said that Bill 289 remained listed as late as Monday, April 6 as pending committee action. “You can be sure that we’ll see it again at a future date,” Morrow said. “That’s the reason we’re having this meeting. It could be voted out of committee tomorrow and move to the Senate floor.”
Federal law prohibits health insurance companies from restricting postpartum hospital stays for new mothers and their infants to fewer than 48 hours after normal vaginal deliveries or 96 hours after a C-section. Rose’s Law also required a doctor to provide a written summary of advantages and disadvantages for early discharge. Doctors were then required to have a mother’s approval in writing before issuing an early discharge.
Gene Church speaking to the crowd
Stutt’s Bill included removal of a state requirement that women be notified after receiving a mammogram if dense breast tissue were present. Maudie Bedford took issue with this portion of the Bill, being a breast cancer survivor herself, after learning through her mammogram that dense breast tissue was present she then asked her doctors for addition test to ascertain if she indeed had breast cancer. Maudie Bedford’s husband Sen Roger Bedford, D from Russellville was the sponsor of the bill requiring doctors to notify women when
Maudie Bedford
dense breast tissue was present.
The crowd was large and most felt the laws in question should remain in tact.
The Speakers stood firm with the Church family, Who are republicans in saying the law should stand as is and not be repealed. Logan Church who is now 16 said he believes it is important for the laws to remain in place.
