Special Session Update: Physicians Testify Against Measures Restricting Missourians’ Reproductive Health

Drs. McNicholas and Parks, women’s health professionals, testified against new medically unnecessary restrictions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Today, at the request of Governor Eric Greitens, the Missouri Legislature reconvened for a costly and unnecessary special session on abortion. The Senate

Committee on Seniors, Families, and Children staged political theater during a nearly six-hour-long hearing on legislation to impose medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion and roll back a local ordinance protecting St. Louis women from discrimination based on their reproductive health choices.

Doctors Colleen McNicholas and Caitlyn Parks testified before the committee today, refuting myths politicians continue to tell about safe, legal abortion.

“[T]he restrictions proposed by Senate Bill 1 and others are neither sincere nor do they improve quality,” Dr. McNicholas stated. “There are some real ways that the Legislature could promote health and even reduce the need for abortion, but it would require women’s health to be viewed as something other than a political football.”

“I am here today to urge the Missouri Legislature to stop trying to restrict access to safe women’s health care,” Dr. Parks added. ”Stop trying to come between a woman and her doctor. Stop creating unnecessary restrictions that push women to unsafe measures.”

Each day of special session costs Missouri taxpayers at least $20,000 for lawmakers to meet.

Supporters from a coalition including ACLU of Missouri, AFSCME Council 72, Capital Area Missouri NOW, Missouri State Women’s Political Caucus, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, National Council of Jewish Women - St. Louis Section, Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri, Progress Missouri, Reproaction and Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice will hold a People’s Special Session on Wednesday, June 14 to resist Gov. Greitens’ extreme agenda undermining women’s health. Hundreds will gather in the Capitol Rotunda to speak out against extreme attacks on Missourians’ access to sexual and reproductive health care and highlight alternative priorities for the Legislature to advance.

For event details, see bit.ly/MOPeoplesSession.

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