title
An Ordinance amending and supplementing the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 5, entitled "Health and Sanitation," through the creation of a new Chapter 560, entitled “Right of Choice.”
body
WHEREAS, while it is the judgment of Council that the practice of abortion constitutes health care, Council also fully recognizes that decisions regarding whether to pursue this avenue are extremely difficult, and involve a multitude of factors - including quality of life, financial considerations, potential stigma within a family, workplace, or community, matters of individual conviction, and religious faith - that the individual patient must weigh; and
WHEREAS, it is the judgment of Council that it is neither appropriate nor welladvised for units of government presided over by transient groups of elected officials to attempt to interpose their own belief system(s) between any individual and their health care provider(s) in making the difficult decisions regarding such procedures; and
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby enacts as follows:
SECTION 1. Incorporation of the Preamble.
The preamble to this Ordinance is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein.
SECTION 2. Amendment of the Code.
The Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, Division 5, entitled "Health and Sanitation," is hereby amended and supplemented through the creation of a new Chapter 560, entitled “Right of Choice,” and comprised as follows:
Chapter 560
Right of Choice
§560-1. Findings of fact and construction.
A. It is the intention of the Council of Allegheny County to hereby establish a policy of non-interference with the life and health of women choosing to undergo abortion procedures, consistent with applicable Commonwealth law. To this end, it is also the intention of Council to restrict its own ability to enact any laws on this subject, even in the event that such enactments become permissible for Counties of the Second Class...
Click here for full text