Tell the committee not to criminalize the safest method of abortion for women after 14 weeks of pregnancy.
Some Michigan lawmakers think they know better than doctors what method of abortion is best for women. With two critical bills up for a committee vote on Tuesday, November 10th, the time to be heard is now.
The House Criminal Justice Committee has already heard testimony once on House Bills 4833 and 4834, which would criminalize the safest abortion procedure for women after 14 weeks of pregnancy. There was no vote at the October 13th committee meeting, but one is expected when the committee meets again November 10th. It’s vitally important that citizens tell the committee they do not want the Michigan Legislature to take away the right of doctors and their patients to choose the safest, most appropriate abortion procedure.
If Michigan criminalizes this abortion method, the health and lives of women who need an abortion after 14 weeks will be at risk. Supporters of Right to Life are among those pushing for criminalization, but banning a safe, legal abortion procedure could be dangerous to many women — hardly a “pro-life” stance.
While those pushing for the ban are busy peddling misinformation, the pro-choice opponents of these bills have been sticking to the truth, which you can read about in my previous post on these bills. It’s important to know the facts about this abortion method and why it needs to be protected.
My post included an interview with an OB/GYN, Matthew Allswede, MD, who testified against HB 4833 and HB 4834 at the last committee meeting. In that testimony he pushed back against the misinformation campaign:
The rhetoric surrounding these bills is inflammatory and non-medical, as reflected by the choice to review these bills in the Criminal Justice Committee, instead of the more germane Health Policy Committee. The practice of medicine is based upon research and carefully developed standards of care. Science, not political beliefs, should be the foundation of medical decision-making. If this Legislature proscribes certain treatments and procedures for non-medical reasons, the doctor-patient relationship will have been irreparably compromised.
The committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 10th in room 327 of the House Office Building in Lansing. If you can, attend to let the committee know you oppose these bills. You can also contact the committee members in advance of the meeting or submit written testimony via the committee clerk, Angie Lake.
Tell the House Judiciary Committee to leave healthcare decisions in the hands of women and their doctors.
[Image credit: openDemocracy via Flickr.]
