State Assembly Again Considers Bill Attacking Access to Health Care for Wisconsin Patients
The State Assembly is expected to vote today on Assembly Bill 67, a measure that denies women the right to receive complete and honest information from their health care providers.
“NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, along with countless organizations and individuals across our state working to ensure access to comprehensive reproductive health care, urges the Wisconsin Assembly to reject AB 67. We ask our Representatives to prioritize the rights of patients to safe, comprehensive reproductive health care over extreme right-wing ideology,” said Courtney Emery, NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin spokesperson.
AB 67 permits medical professionals to refuse to recommend or refer a pregnant woman for an abortion, even in an emergency situation in which her health or life may be jeopardized. The bill grants health care providers immunity from any civil, criminal or disciplinary liability. As a result, a patient is denied all recourse if her health is harmed as a result of her provider’s refusal to offer medically necessary information.
AB 67 violates principles of informed consent and well-established medical ethics, and the bill is therefore opposed by numerous prestigious organizations, including the Wisconsin Medical Society and the Wisconsin Nurses’ Association.
The Wisconsin Medical Society and Wisconsin Nurses’ Association note that AB 67 permits providers to withhold information necessary for patients to make informed decisions about their health and their lives. “NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin calls on Wisconsin Representatives to follow the lead of these well-respected organizations and oppose AB 67,” said Emery.
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