PLANNED PARENTHOOD SPEAKS OUT AGAINST GOV. HASLAM’S SIGNING OF HB977 TODAY

At Planned Parenthood, we believe in the patient’s right to privacy and the need for a trusted doctor-patient relationship. That is why we have opposed HB977 from its inception.  This bill undermines the medical discretion of professionals and the wishes of the patient. It requires physicians to use an unnecessary and politically-driven script for so-called “informed consent,” and requires all women, regardless of their circumstances, to make two visits to a physician to receive an abortion with at least 48 hours separating the visits.

HB977 will become law upon Governor Haslam’s signing today and adds pointless burdens to women while doing nothing to protect them. It is a tool to shame and disgrace women who make the deeply personal decision to end a pregnancy. And it creates unnecessary financial and emotional hardships. The Tennessee General Assembly did not consult the medical community on this bill and even rejected amendments that would make exceptions for victims of rape and incest.

This bill is part and parcel of the political strategy to pass laws in our state that are purported to protect women’s health and safety, but in fact do quite the opposite. 

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Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR), founded in 1938, is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. PPGMR’s mission is to improve health and well-being by providing high-quality, non-judgmental sexual health care, honest and accurate sexuality education, and reproductive health and rights advocacy.