Medical Professionals and Doctors Sound the Alarm on Reproductive Health Care Legislation

Montana medical professionals tell politicians to stay out of reproductive health care decisions. More than 100 medical professionals sign letter with Committee to Protect Health Care. On the eve of the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs that put abortion protections back in the hands of states, more than 100 Montana medical professionals signed a letter calling on Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte and lawmakers to get their hands out of reproductive health care decisions.

“Montana medical professionals call on our state lawmakers and Governor Gianforte to stop their attacks on our patients’ reproductive health and bodily autonomy. Decisions around abortion should be left to women and their trained doctors – not politicians,” the 106 medical professionals wrote in a letter put forward by the Committee to Protect Health Care.

Legislative Context and Legal Protections in Montana

Abortion remains legal in Montana through the state Supreme Court’s Armstrong v. State of Montana decision. It protects access to abortion based on the state’s constitutional privacy protection. However, the legislative session this spring was described as “extremely hostile to patients’ rights.” Medical professionals have called on elected leaders to cease their dangerous attacks on reproductive health, including access to abortion.

Data on Recent Montana Legislative Actions and Injunctions:

• 24-week abortion ban: Preliminary injunction issued by District Court Judge Mike Menahan.
• Dilation and evacuation ban (after 15 weeks): Preliminary injunction issued; state is prohibited from enforcing the law.
• Medicaid-funded abortions ban: Preliminary injunction issued keeping the state from enforcing the ban.
• Parental consultation bill (HB 968): Vetoed by Governor Greg Gianforte; lawmakers failed to override the veto.
• Medicaid prior authorization rule: Enjoined by the court, prohibiting requirements for physical exams for medically necessary abortions.

Florida Doctors and the Controversy of Amendment 4

In Florida, local doctors are sounding the alarm about the inherent dangers Amendment 4 presents. Amendment 4, a pro-abortion amendment that will appear on the ballot in the fall, has alarmed pro-life Floridians, particularly in regard to its extreme and misleading nature. The amendment states: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Vague Definitions of Providers and Viability

“Abortion is a complicated procedure, and it is not without risk,” Dr. Liebert said. “This amendment removes the doctor from critical decisions, requiring only a ‘healthcare provider’ which is very broad, and vague.” The definition of health-care provider is not defined, and therefore is not limited to physicians. Dr. Ana Garcia Iguaran adds: “It is disappointing that this amendment seeks to lower the bar, allowing non-physicians to make decisions that can jeopardize a woman’s life.”

Gestational Age and Health Risks

The misleading language of Amendment 4 indicates that it would allow abortion “before viability,” however it then adds an extremely broad exception such that ultimately it allows abortion up until birth, for any reason as decided upon by any non-physician healthcare provider. Dr. Stephen Hannan adds that “the language of Amendment 4 is very misleading. Although the amendment seems to limit abortions to a pre-viability age of the baby, it provides no precise definition of the gestational age.”

“We know that babies can feel pain as early as 15 weeks, and there is solid proof that they can feel pain as early as 12 weeks,” said Dr. Liebert. “This amendment allows abortion all the way through the third term. People dismiss that, but abortion becomes much riskier for the mother at that point.” From challenging legal precedents to allowing non-physicians to make critical medical choices, these extremist attempts cause grave concern for medical professionals across the country.