All New England states besides New Hampshire have a “shield law” protecting doctors who provide reproductive health services to out-of-state patients from legal consequences.
“A bill that would have codified the right to reproductive health care services in New Hampshire — including contraception, abortion, and assisted reproduction — was voted down 16-8 by the state Senate on Thursday,” according to New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR).
This bill had another factor that would have provided protections for medical providers from being sued by other states for providing services like abortions to patients out of state.
It is important to keep that in mind, as not only patients are at risk here, but providers are as well when they are just trying to do their jobs and assist people in need. These services are necessary and should not be political.
NHPR reports, “Labor and delivery units across New Hampshire are already facing increasing uncertainties as hospitals deal and struggle with staffing shortages, financial pressures, and declining birth rates,” said N.H. Sen. Debra Altschiller, a Democrat from Stratham, who sponsored the legislation.
My thoughts on hearing this are that New Hampshire should do better. I always pride New England in education and healthcare, but this makes it hard to continue to do so. It is disappointing that the New Hampshire Senate would block a bill that protects reproductive healthcare access. I believe these are necessary services that should be available. The stigma around these services is already frustrating enough, but this is ridiculous. This is such a step backwards for patients’ bodily autonomy who need these services.
“Sen. Daryl Abbas, a Republican from Salem, opposed the bill and said it would put New Hampshire in direct conflict with other states,” states NHPR.
I try to be the most reasonable and open-minded person I can be. That’s a goal I feel every person should have to make the world go around smoothly. With that being said, though, I do not see this as a decision I can support since it is putting politics over basic rights and healthcare needs that everyone deserves to have. As far as I can extend the ability to open up my mind, voting down this bill just does not align with my beliefs.
Politicians need to think about how if their mothers, sisters, cousins, neighbors, etc, needed a healthcare service provided like an abortion, it should be easily accessible. If you think about how this will affect those around you, why make it more difficult for them to have access to the car they need?
NHPR also writes, “New Hampshire is the only state in New England that does not have a so-called shield law.”
That means that out of all of the New England states, New Hampshire remains the only one without a law that protects doctors and patients from getting in legal trouble for providing and receiving specific healthcare services.
Why this is even a thing is beyond me. To me, it means you lack common sense if you want to endanger patients and their providers.
It is unsettling that New Hampshire is lagging behind other New England states regarding an issue like this. The State Senate is taking an already difficult situation and making it worse.
Ali Barretta can be contacted at
abarretta@kscequinox.com
