In response to Governor John Bel Edwards signing a bill that would ban abortion after 15-weeks in the state of Louisiana, Board Member of Physicians for Reproductive Health Dr. Valerie Williams issued the following statement:
“As an ob/gyn in Louisiana, I believe it’s my duty to meet my patients’ needs without judgment. Not only do restrictive laws make it harder for me to do my job, but this abortion ban is also an assault on patients in my state and would have drastic effects on access to abortion care.
“All abortion bans are dangerous—they endanger the health of women.”
“Louisiana is far from the only state trying to pass medically irresponsible laws: Mississippi recently passed a 15-week ban that was thankfully blocked by a judge, and Iowa just passed a six-week ban. All abortion bans are dangerous—they endanger the health of women.
“For my patients’ sake, I urge the Legislature and Governor Edwards to turn their attention to policies that will improve the health and lives of the people of Louisiana, rather than enacting medically unsound restrictions on abortion.”