Governor Janet T. Mills (D) Appearing on CNN Television During the Governors’ Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. Earlier This Year.
A bill that would make it clear that a woman can decide to have an abortion late in her pregnancy was introduced by Governor Janet T. Mills (D) yesterday in Augusta. The bill provides that decision is to be made by a woman and her doctor – not by politicans. The bill has received widespread support from religious leaders, medical professionals. reproductive health care experts and others.
“Like the majority of Christians around the US, the Maine Council of Churches believes abortion should be safe and legal. We affirm the ability of pregnant people to make good, moral choices and believe the decision to end a pregnany can be such a choice. Abortion is a complex health care and moral issue requiring nuanced medical, ethical and spiritual discernment in each unique situation, without interference from the government,” said Jane Field, Executive Director of the Maine Council of Churches. “Our state currently requires families in the midst of unimaginable pain and crisis to travel out of state for abortion care late in pregnancy because our current laws fall short. This bill will provide Mainers and their medical providers the freedom and privacy to make these decisions safely here at home and it will help ensure medical providers in Maine can offer the care their patients need when they need it throughout a pregnancy.”
“The reasons why people seek abortions are complex. All medical care, including the very personal and private decision of abortion, is best determined in an office by patients and trusted health care providers focused on consensus, evidence-based medical decision-making,” said Maine Medical Association President, Erik Steele, D.O. “Maine physicians are face-to-face with real people every day. We understand more than anyone the anxiety, fear and differing personal circumstances of each patient, including the real-life impacts of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. We stand steadfast with Governor Mills in defense of the health care of all Mainers and our professsion.”
The legislation – which Governor Mills, Senate President Jackson and Speaker Talbot Ross announced in January – also eliminates language in current law that subjects medical providers who perform abortions to criminl penalties under certain circumstances, instead regulating abortion like other safe, legal medical procedures. It also updates antiquated data collection policies related to abortion care to reduce stigma, protect patient privacy and protect reproductive health care providers.
“Mainers deserve to be able to get medical care from a provider they trust in their home state. This bill will help make sure every person who needs abortion care in Maine can get the care they need, when they need it. It will also repeal criminal penalties attached to Maine’s abortion laws because no medical professional should face the threat of jail when providing health care to their patients,” said Nicole Clegg, Acting CEO, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
For more background information on the bill, please visit post herein dated January 18, 2023.