Respect Women Act Restores Women’s Medical Rights Print
News
Written by State Senate Democrats   
Saturday, 14 October 2017 10:21

women-3genProposals to Take Politics out of Medical Decisions, Repeal Harmful Abortions Restrictions and Improve Health Center Safety.


MADISON – On Thursday, Representative Chris Taylor (D- Madison) and Senator Jon Erpenbach (D- Middleton) announced the Respect Women Act, a collection of three bills that restores the patient/doctor relationship in Wisconsin and protects women’s access to health care without harassment, intimidation or violence.

chris-taylor“Time and time again, Republican legislators have inserted themselves into the exam room. Women in Wisconsin should be able to receive the health care their doctors, not politicians, determine is appropriate. This package of bills will put these personal health care decisions back where they should be – between a woman and her doctor,” said Representative Chris Taylor.

jon-erpenbachWisconsin women’s right to make their own health care decisions has been eroded by Republican-sponsored legislation.  Since the legalization of Roe v. Wade, more than 20 new laws restricting access to abortion have been implemented.  Laws requiring comprehensive sex education have been repealed, and family planning health centers that provide access to birth control have been shut down.

“Republican legislators have made rolling back women’s health protections a focus of their extreme agenda. I don’t know why the attack on women’s health and lives continues on a regular basis, but I do know it flies in the face of the personal freedom and individual rights protections Republicans say they care about,” said Senator Erpenbach.

The Respect Women Act includes three bills that:

·         Ensure Wisconsin women have access to comprehensive reproductive health care by repealing existing abortion restrictions that are not grounded in medical science or widely accepted as medical best practices.

·         Ensure all patients receive honest, medically accurate information when seeking health care by prohibiting politicians from dictating the medically inaccurate information doctors must provide to their patients.

·         Improve law enforcement training opportunities regarding effective prevention strategies to address harassment, intimidation and violence that is directed towards patients and providers at reproductive healthcare facilities.

To learn more, visit http://www.supportwomenshealth.org/respect-women-act.html