“H.R. 36 ignores the realities of a woman’s life and threatens doctors with extreme penalties for providing medical care.”
New York, NY—On the eve of the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Congress has the opportunity to either protect and improve women’s access to reproductive health care or to turn their backs on women in difficult and complicated situations. Physicians for Reproductive Health (Physicians) applauds the House and Senate for introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act, proactive legislation that will prohibit states from imposing restrictions on reproductive health care providers that apply to no similar medical care, interfere with women’s personal decision making, and block access to safe and legal abortion services.
At the same time, Physicians joins other major medical groups in opposing H.R. 36, a dangerous ban on abortion at 20 weeks that will threaten the health and well-being of women facing complicated circumstances.
Physicians Board Chair Nancy L. Stanwood, MD, MPH, commented, “Tomorrow is an anniversary that physicians and women honor because Roe v. Wade made a dramatic change in women’s lives 42 years ago. The Supreme Court recognized the need for women to decide, with guidance of a medical professional, when and if to have a child. However, anti-choice politicians have chipped away at this right with fervor, ignoring the lives of women. State after state has passed onerous legislation, taking away women’s rights through manipulative regulation.
“That is why we support the reintroduction of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would restore many of the original rights guaranteed by Roe and confirm that the right to have an abortion should be ensured like any other right. Just as access to free speech doesn’t change based on your zip code, neither should access to this essential health care right.
“And yet, at the same time, anti-choice proponents have chosen to mark the occasion by voting on H.R. 36, a bill that bans almost all abortion care at 20 weeks. Physicians and their patients may determine abortion care at 20 weeks is the best medical option for many important reasons. This bill, which has only limited exceptions and no provisions to protect a woman’s health, would take that decision out of the hands of patients and their trusted physicians and put it in the hands of politicians. My colleagues and I who provide abortion care understand that every woman is unique, and every pregnancy is different. We must be able to provide women with the best medical care. H.R. 36 would jeopardize the health of women and put doctors at risk of criminal penalties for doing what is medically best. This is a terrible bill for women and we urge members of Congress to vote No.”
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