Today, Washington, DC, Councilmember David Grosso introduced a bill that would protect health care professionals from discrimination by employers based on their participation in or support for abortion or sterilization services.
In response, Dr. Jamila Perritt, a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, released the following statement:
“The bill introduced today is a crucial measure to ensure that abortion providers are able to care for their patients without fear of retribution, intimidation, or discrimination. Providers across the country, including in our nation’s capital, report having job offers retracted or even facing threats of termination simply for providing women with the abortion care they need. This situation is unfair and unacceptable, and it must be resolved.
“Every day, doctors and other health professionals in DC and nationwide proudly advocate for comprehensive reproductive health care for their patients, including access to abortion. We must do all we can to ensure that our nation’s abortion providers are free to serve the interests of their patients, not silenced because they fear the consequences of speaking out.”