Sen. Greg Razer Files Legislation to Protect Women’s Health and Access to Birth Control


Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Senator Greg Razer Files Legislation to Protect Women’s Health and Access to
Birth Control

 

JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, has filed legislation to protect women’s health by clarifying Missouri law to include ectopic pregnancies in the definition of “medical emergencies” and ensuring access to contraception.  

Recently, Missouri’s total ban on abortion has caused in confusion within the medical community regarding which procedures and medications are still allowed.

“When it comes to saving women’s lives, there can be no room for confusion,” said Sen. Razer. “We have seen Missouri women in medical emergencies turned away from hospitals or denied birth control since Missouri’s total ban on abortion went into effect. To prevent this from happening again, we need to clarify Missouri law so that all medical professionals know that ectopic pregnancies are a medical emergency, and birth control is still legal.”

Senator Razer’s Senate Bill 62 would clarify in law that birth control used to prevent pregnancies is not to be included in the state’s definition of “abortion.” This legislation also includes ectopic pregnancies in the state’s definition of a “medical emergency.”

Immediately after Missouri’s total abortion ban went into effect, a Missouri hospital system announced it would stop providing Plan B, a type of contraception used to prevent pregnancy, due to the hospital’s interpretation of the new law. Medical providers who violate any aspect of Missouri’s ban can be found guilty of a class-B felony and spend five to 15 years in prison. Eventually, the hospital system resumed offering the contraception but maintained it still had “grave concern” about what is allowed under the law.

Additional Missouri medical providers also raised concerns that the state’s total ban on abortion places women with high-risk pregnancies in danger by delaying life-saving care. Under Missouri’s total abortion ban, there are no exceptions for victims of rape or incest. An abortion is only permitted in a “medical emergency,” which does not explicitly include ectopic pregnancies in the state’s definition.

“I oppose Missouri’s total ban on abortion, but I hope those who support it can at least see the need to protect women’s health in these specific situations,” said Sen. Razer.

Missouri’s 2023 legislative session begins Jan. 4.

For more information, please contact Sen. Razer’s office at 573-751-6607. 

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