Today a bill to repeal Minnesota’s Woman’s Right to Know informed consent law was introduced in the state Senate. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) strongly opposes this effort to deny pregnant women basic factual information.
“Woman’s Right to Know empowers pregnant women with the relevant information prior to undergoing abortion—so that they can properly give their full consent before submitting to a surgical or chemical abortion procedure,” says MCCL Legislative Director Andrea Rau. “The attempt to repeal this commonsense and mainstream law is extreme and ought to be firmly rejected.”
The new bill, S.F. 2737, is authored by Sen. Matt Klein (DFL-Mendota Heights). It would completely repeal Woman’s Right to Know (MN Statutes 145.4241-145.4249), which ensures that women are informed before undergoing an abortion. Specifically, the law requires that women be told the gestational age of their unborn child, the medical risks of the abortion procedure (such as infection and hemorrhage) and of carrying the child to term, and that medical assistance benefits and child support may be available. It also requires that women be offered detailed information about the unborn child’s development, abortion methods, alternatives to abortion, and more.
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In 2017 (the latest year for which data is available), 1,161 pregnant women opted against having abortions after receiving the informed consent information, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
“Repealing Woman’s Right to Know would deny women the assurance that they will receive all the information they need to make the most informed choice,” says Rau. “Informed consent is something that most Minnesotans support, regardless of their views on abortion. Women have a right to know.”
LifeNews.com Note: Paul Stark is a member of the staff of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, a statewide pro-life group.
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Author: Paul Stark
