What about the voiceless?

In “Spokane judge also blocks Trump rule” (Spokesman-Review, Nov. 18), I read that the second judge in as many days has struck down the so-called “conscience rule” of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services which would allow health care workers to refuse care for religious or moral reasons.

On October 23rd, I read that “Women’s rights (were) on the ballot in Spokane” and that “Planned Parenthood is no different from any other health care provider” and that “reproductive health care is health care.” Does this mean that hospitals now can be forced, because of the judge’s ruling, to allow their doctors on staff to perform abortions at the hospitals? Is that what I was voting for or against in the guise of, say, a tax increase for road repairs?

Also, according to “Advocates see path for apes personhood” (S-R, Nov. 8), a legal decision in Argentina granting an orangutan named Sandra personhood has given primate communication scientist Mary Lee Jensvard “hope the rights of chimps and other nonhuman primates could improve.” I hope that a human baby in the womb without a voice will be granted personhood as well and have a right to life.

Judith Maibie

Spokane