Gender Justice Applauds MN House Introduction of Physician’s Integrity Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2020
CONTACT
Gabbi Pierce, Communications Manager
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651.789.2090
Today, Gender Justice applauded the House introduction of H.F. 3506, the Physician’s Integrity Act, by Rep. Alice Mann (D – Lakeville). The bill would repeal the 24-hour waiting period and state mandated lecture that doctors are required by law to give patients before they receive abortion care, and serves as the House companion to a bill introduced by Sen. Matt Klein (D – Mendota Heights). Both Rep. Mann and Sen. Klein are medical doctors.
Under current Minnesota law, in addition to scheduling an appointment for an abortion, patients seeking abortions have to schedule an extra, medically unnecessary appointment for a doctor to read a state mandated script. The script puts the words of anti-abortion politicians directly into the mouths of doctors. This forces doctors, under threat of felony penalties, to tell patients medically irrelevant information about abortion – like falsely suggesting a link between breast cancer and abortion. Patients must then wait an additional 24 hours before receiving care. No other healthcare procedure is singled out for this treatment in law.
“As a doctor and a representative, I can tell you with absolute certainty that healthcare decisions belong in the examination room, not the Capitol,” said Rep. Mann. “We should be giving doctors the tools they need to do their jobs, and patients the bodily autonomy they need to make the best healthcare decisions for them and their families – that means safe, legal abortion access free from outside interference.”
“Every Minnesotan deserves access to a full spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion care. Our current laws stigmatize abortion and only exist to create obstacles for people needing care,” said Megan Peterson, Executive Director at Gender Justice. “Gender Justice is proud to work with two dedicated physicians and representatives to ensure patients across Minnesota have the care they need and the bodily autonomy they deserve.”
The Physician’s Integrity Act is a lead bill on Gender Justice’s legislative agenda. It also has the support of UnRestrict Minnesota, first-of-its-kind coalition of over 20 community partner organizations advocating to repeal Minnesota’s abortion restrictions. You can read the full text of H.F. 3506 here and S.F. 2737 here.