Arizona abortion laws have become stricter in recent years. Now, some groups think lawmakers have gone too far.
A 2015 law that requires patients be notified of the possibility to “reverse” a medication abortion has caused controversy. Senate Bill 1318 also limited health care exchange insurance policies from covering abortion services except in the case of medical necessity, rape or incest.
Here is what people on both sides of the debate are saying about the law:
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“The mandate in SB 1318 that physicians make medical claims to pregnant women which are not supported by scientific or medical evidence goes against medical best practices. It is dangerous and quite simply outrageous. Arizona women trust their physicians. Extreme policymakers are preying on this trust in order to further bad medicine, all in the name of politics, and not science. The health and safety of the women of our state must remain a top priority. We strongly oppose SB 1318.”
— Jodi Liggett, Planned Parenthood spokeswoman in a prepared release about Senate Bill 1318
“This bill would require women who are seeking an abortion after being traumatized by rape or incest to share personal, private and emotional information with an insurance company if they want coverage for the procedure. It will force victims to suffer another trauma. Telling my story today was difficult, and I have had years to deal with and recover from the incident. I can’t imagine the position this legislation would put recent victims in if they attempt to get medical care.”
— State Rep. Victoria Steele, Tuscon Weekly, during a hearing in the State House Committee
"Medicine should be practiced by the experts ... not by lawmakers. This is junk science. There is no credible evidence that abortion reversal is possible. And to base a standard of care recommendation on that is completely anti-ethical."
— Scottsdale physician Julie Kwatra, The Arizona Republic
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"Planned Parenthood is suing the state to be able to withhold information from women. I think it's shameful. We are confident we are going to prevail. The fact is, there are 103 healthy babies alive and 77 ongoing healthy pregnancies due to abortion pill reversal. To say that there is no evidence to that effect is a lie."
— Josh Kredit, legal counsel for the Center for Arizona Policy, The Arizona Republic
“It does not dictate any practice of medicine, it is simply disclosure.”
— Rep Eddie Farnsworth (R-Gilbert), The Arizona Republic, on why he supports a 2015 law to inform women that medication abortions can possibly be reversed