Defeat the So-Called "Woman’s Right to Know" Bill
Thank you to everyone who contacted their officials on this bill. The House attached the "Woman's Right to Know" on a Circus Bill and sent it to the Senate. The Senate passed it and Governor Pawlenty signed within hours. NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota collected more than 1000 signatures in less than 24 hours urging the Governor to veto the bill. The 24-Hour Waiting Period goes into law on July 1, 2003. This bill requires "informed consent" of a female upon whom an abortion is performed. At least 24 hours prior to performing the abortion (or 72 hours if mailed), the physician or the referring physician is required to tell the woman in person, or by telephone the following: The particular medical risks associated with the particular abortion procedure to be employed including, when medically accurate, the risks of infection, hemorrhage, breast cancer, danger to subsequent pregnancies, and infertility.
The probable gestational age of the 'unborn child' at the time the abortion is to be performed.
The medical risks associated with carrying her child to term.The bill also has further provisions, including an unscientific definition of ‘unborn child,’ a direct to the state Supreme Court provision, elaborate and unnecessary enhancement of physician reporting requirements, and scientifically unproven reference to 'fetal pain.' HOW THEY VOTED
+ denotes voting the pro-choice position
- denotes voting against the pro-choice position | 01 Stumpf, LeRoy A. - | 02 Skoe, Rod + | | 03 Saxhaug, Tom + | 04 Ruud, Carrie L. - | | 05 Tomassoni, David J. + | 06 Bakk, Thomas M. + | | 07 Solon, Yvonne Prettner + | 08 Lourey, Becky + | | 09 Langseth, Keith + | 10 Larson, Cal - | | 11 Sams, Dallas C. - | 12 Koering, Paul E. - | | 13 Johnson, Dean E. - | 14 Fischbach, Michelle L. - | | 15 Kleis, Dave - | 16 Wergin, Betsy L. - | | 17 Nienow, Sean R. - | 18 Dille, Steve - | | 19 Ourada, Mark - | 20 Kubly, Gary W. - | | 21 Frederickson, Dennis R. - | 22 Vickerman, Jim - | | 23 Hottinger, John C. + | 24 Rosen, Julie A. - | | 25 Neuville, Thomas M. - | 26 Day, Dick - | | 27 Sparks, Dan + | 28 Murphy, Steve + | | 29 Senjem, David H. - | 30 Kiscaden, Sheila M. + | | 31 Kierlin, Bob - | 32 Limmer, Warren - | | 33 Olson, Gen - | 34 Ortman, Julianne E. - | | 35 Robling, Claire A. - | 36 Pariseau, Pat - | | 37 Knutson, David L. - | 38 McGinn, Mike - | | 39 Metzen, James P. + | 40 Belanger, Jr., William V. - | | 41 Michel, Geoff - | 42 Hann, David - | | 43 Gaither, David - | 44 Kelley, Steve + | | 45 Rest, Ann H. + | 46 Scheid, Linda + | | 47 Foley, Leo T. + | 48 Jungbauer, Michael J. - | | 49 Johnson, Debbie J. - | 50 Chaudhary, Satveer + | | 51 Betzold, Don + | 52 Bachmann, Michele - | | 53 Reiter, Mady - | 54 Marty, John + | | 55 Wiger, Charles W. + | 56 LeClair, Brian - | | 57 Marko, Sharon + | 58 Higgins, Linda + | | 59 Pogemiller, Lawrence J. + | 60 Dibble, D. Scott + | | 61 Berglin, Linda + | 62 Skoglund, Wesley J. + | | 63 Ranum, Jane B. + | 64 Cohen, Richard J. + | | 65 Pappas, Sandra L. + | 66 Anderson, Ellen R. + | | 67 Moua, Mee + |
Why NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota opposes this legislation: 1. It has no good medical reasoning behind it
Much of the information that the physician would be required to provide is non-medical and best provided by a trained counselor.
No other medical procedure requires a 24-hour waiting period. 2. Requiring clinics to inform their patients is redundant and unnecessary
Existing state law already ensures that, prior to performing any medical procedure, a doctor obtain the patient’s informed consent after advising the patient of relevant information, including the risks involved and the alternatives available. Minnesota Statute 145.412(sub. 1)(4) states that it shall be unlawful to willfully perform an abortion unless the abortion is performed “with the consent of the woman submitting to the abortion after a full explanation of the procedure and the effects of the abortion.”
3. The bill's waiting period only limits women's access to abortion services
Not all clinics may be able to provide the required information over the phone, necessitating two trips to the abortion clinic. With only 1 abortion clinic outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area (in Duluth), many women will have to either travel long distances twice in two days or stay overnight, substantially increasing their costs.
Much of the bill’s requirements would increase the cost of each abortion, making the choice an economically unattainable option for many women. 4. Leading medical organizations, such as the AMA , oppose so-called “informed” consent laws and mandatory waiting periods
The American Medical Association, American Medical Women’s Association, and American Public Health Association oppose procedure-specific informed consent requirements that might interfere with doctor-patient relationship. 5. New and burdensome reporting requirements would further stigmatize abortion care from mainstream medical practice.
The bill would discourage doctors from providing and referring patients for abortions. There would also likely be a chilling effect on medical students likelihood to provide abortion services once they practice medicine.
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