Snopes, a fact-finding website, found Val Arkoosh’s tweet (below) to be mostly false. Arkoosh is currently the Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. She has also announced that she is a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022.
Here’s what Snopes had to say about Arkoosh’s tweet.
What’s True
The bill could greatly expand the obligation on healthcare providers to file fetal death certificates. In order to fully discharge that legal obligation, healthcare providers would, in many cases, have to consult with patients about the details of the fetal death, even if the patients would strongly prefer not to discuss fetal death certificates and similar considerations. Thus, the bill was likely to multiply the trauma suffered by patients who undergo an abortion or miscarriage in Pennsylvania.
What’s False
However, Pennsylvania law does not require patients themselves to register fetal deaths, or file, obtain or pay for a fetal death certificate, and it does not fine them for having a miscarriage. The bill would not introduce such legal requirements.
The proposed bill that Arkoosh refers to is HB-118, aka “The Unborn Child Dignity Act.” HB-118 cleared the House Health Committee by a 15-10. All 15 Yes votes were Republicans and all 10 No Votes were Democrats.