It’s been a year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion. And in those 12 months, Idaho’s extremist lawmakers and Attorney General Raúl Labrador have plunged our state into a health care crisis. OB-GYNs and maternal fetal medicine specialists are fleeing the state, and hospitals are shuttering their labor and delivery wards for fear of prosecution because doctors, health care providers and hospital administrators all understand that abortion is basic, fundamental health care. It’s only a matter of time before a patient dies because Idaho’s laws prevented their doctor from taking action.
But this level of health care crisis wasn’t enough for Labrador. He thought it should go a step further, to not only tie the hands of doctors in Idaho, but to also try to prevent them from helping their patients legally access care in other states.
On March 27, Labrador issued a legal opinion stating his belief that Idaho’s abortion bans prohibit providers from referring patients for legal abortion care out of state. The attorney general’s legal opinion threatens providers with revoking their license if they “refer” a patient out of state for an abortion. What exactly does that mean? Is this opinion suggesting that a doctor in Idaho can’t tell a patient where to go to receive an abortion out of state? Does it mean doctors can’t help them schedule an appointment for legal care out of state? Is it meant to make doctors fear that they could lose their license for even sharing any information about out-of-state abortion care?
It’s understandable that Idaho doctors are confused. Labrador’s opinion is so broad that it’s scaring many providers into silence. We sued Labrador, and while he has withdrawn the opinion letter, he is refusing to disavow the ridiculous interpretation it contains.
So, let me tell you what your doctor may be too afraid to share: Abortion is legal in Oregon and Washington for both adults and minors. It is completely legal for you, an Idahoan, to cross the border and access abortion care in a state where abortion is legal, like it is in Oregon and Washington.
It is an absolute travesty that your doctor may be too afraid to help you access legal health care — but that’s exactly what extreme politicians want. They want to prevent you from knowing that you have legal abortion options in Oregon and Washington. And, unfortunately, their efforts are working. Labrador’s legal opinion is having a chilling effect on physicians and staff who work in reproductive health care. Every day, these health care providers fear losing their licenses if they simply provide best-practice medical care. I don’t know about you, but I want my doctors’ only worry to be “how can I provide the best health care to my patients,” not “can I lose my medical license for providing a referral.”
When you go to the doctor, you deserve better than extreme, hostile, ideological politics. You deserve health care, accurate information, and high-quality medical advice for your unique situation.
I’ve called Idaho my home for over 40 years. I love our state. I’m proud to have raised my children here. I’m proud to call myself an Idahoan. But I’m worried about our future. With OB-GYNs leaving and our lawmakers responding with even more extreme punishments and opinions, how are we supposed to attract new medical talent? How are we supposed to recruit new doctors when they see Idaho lawmakers’ disdain and lack of respect for basic medicine?
Make no mistake, Planned Parenthood will not back down from our responsibilities to step forward for patients and to vehemently defend providers navigating a treacherous landscape of politically motivated assaults. We know that this is not just about abortion. It’s about politicians’ power and control over your body. The Labradors of the world want to scare and silence you away from making your own decisions. The need for abortion care is not a partisan issue. Silencing and attacking providers will impact everyone, regardless of your political affiliation. What will you do when you need an abortion to save your life?
I’ll tell you: Planned Parenthood has a health care center in Ontario, OR that provides abortion care to all patients — including Idahoans. Our health centers in Washington state also provide legal abortion care to Idahoans and so many other people across the country who find themselves in a state that has taken away their abortion access. We will continue to care for our patients with fierce compassion, and I will not shy away from providing accurate information to patients needing help — like the fact that abortion is legal in Oregon and Washington. We aren’t backing down; and we won’t fall for extremist politicians’ scare tactics. Planned Parenthood is here to support you, no matter what.
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