Legislator Letter Series ~ Letter 7 ~ LLS7

~ Important Bill HB 2283 ~ Action Needed Now! ~

This bill has to be voted on this week or not at all!

PLEASE call and then follow up by sending out these emails!

It is regarding House Bill 2283, which requires three (3) unaffiliated doctors to corroborate allegations of medical neglect before DCS can take custody of a child. It also prevents DCS from taking children into custody due to parents seeking a second opinion or for religious treatments such as prayer.

Use the following scripts for calls, talking points, or emails.

There is another, longer email below.   Please send it as a  follow-up to calls.  If you can, send out a different text below periodically the next few days.  Thank you!

Please contact Representative Edwin W. Farnsworth, Republican, District 12
House of Representatives, 1700 W. Washington, Room 224, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Phone: (602) 926-5735, Fax: (602) 417-3122, Email: efarnsworth@azleg.gov

Rep. Farnsworth – Phone: (602) 926-5735; Email: efarnsworth@azleg.gov

Sample Script #1 for calls/emails:

I am calling to ask Representative Farnsworth to support HB 2283. Arizona Law guarantees the right of parents to direct the health care of their children, but DCS is ignoring that law. HB 2283 protects parents seeking a second opinion from overzealous DCS workers. It also requires corroboration from multiple physicians before DCS can take children due to alleged medical neglect, protecting parents from false reports by physicians. Lastly, it provides another safeguard to religious freedom by prohibiting DCS from taking children simply because parents choose to pray for their healing. These seem like basic freedoms, but they have become necessary defenses against an overreaching government agency. Please support HB 2283.

Sample Script #2 for calls/emails:

I am calling to ask Representative Farnsworth to support HB 2283. Arizona Law guarantees the right of parents to direct the health care of their children. DCS, however, is ignoring this law and taking children from parents when they should not. HB 2283 protects parents against DCS by prohibiting DCS from taking children due to a parent seeking a second opinion, a single doctor alleging medical neglect without corroboration, or a parent praying for their child. These are basic rights that are currently being violated. Please support HB 2283.

Sample Script #3 for calls/emails:

I am calling to ask Representative Farnsworth to support HB 2283. There is no reason that parents should not be able to seek a second opinion for medical treatment for their children without fear of DCS taking their children. Please ask him to support HB 2283.

Sample Script #4 for calls/emails:

I am calling to ask Representative Farnsworth to support HB 2283.  DCS should always have to get the opinion of multiple physicians before they take children away from parents based on the allegation of medical neglect. Please ask him to support HB 2283.

Sample Email for Representative Farnsworth:

Representative Farnsworth – Email Address: efarnsworth@azleg.gov

Dear Representative Farnsworth,

I understand that you will have a direct influence on the success of House Bill 2283. I implore you to support HB 2283 and do whatever you can to promote its passage. There is no reason that parents should have their children taken from them by the state over a difference of medical opinions when Arizona law is clear in guaranteeing parental rights, including the right to direct the health care and mental health of children as a fundamental right.

Medical kidnappings are on the rise. Physicians, as mandatory reporters, can make one phone call to the Department of Child Safety and cause children to be taken from their parents over simple disagreements on medical treatments. These calls can be motivated by physicians not wanting to lose customers, physicians desiring to gain subjects for drug trials or genetic testing experiments, physicians merely being offended or insulted by questioning parents, or physicians avoiding a medical malpractice suit.

The law indicates that the role of DCS is to “protect children.” In such capacity, DCS has been granted the power to remove children from abusive or neglectful situations. However, in cases of medical neglect, it is only where the neglect “causes unreasonable risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare”. Some physicians and case workers are abusing this clause. In order to discourage the unjust taking of children, HB 2283 must be passed. The devastation to both families and children is tremendous when DCS takes children who are not in danger. The resulting trauma has life-long effects.

I will be watching for the outcome of this bill and I look forward to hearing your position on it.

Sincerely,
A concerned citizen

AZ Rev Stat § 1-601
A. The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care and mental health of their children is a fundamental right.
B. This state, any political subdivision of this state or any other governmental entity shall not infringe on these rights without demonstrating that the compelling governmental interest as applied to the child involved is of the highest order, is narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means.

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URGENT, Please go to The Legislator Letter Series ~ PART II after completing the above. 

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Your efforts WILL make a difference!!!