Abortion via D&E is essential medical care (Oppose MT HB721)
HB 721 — Ban on the D&E method of abortion or the “Dismemberment Abortion Prohibition Act”
Statement of Opposition
Dear Chair and Members of the Committee,
My name is Caitlin Blau, DO. I am an abortion provider living and working in Missoula, Montana. I am here in opposition to this bill on behalf of myself and my patients.
I, and my colleagues, provide exceptional patient-centered care to all our patients. Dilation & evacuation (D&E) is a safe, effective, and well-researched medical procedure. Furthermore, my colleagues and I provide these procedures in accordance with national guidelines, and out of great love and care for our patients.
Abortion via D&E is essential medical care. Major medical associations including the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) have voiced their support for abortion access and their opposition to the criminalization of healthcare providers.
The text of this bill states (Pg. 5 line 22 Section 6): “[Sections 1 through 7] may not be construed to: 24 (b) alter generally accepted medical standards.” I challenge this committee to consider what, in fact, are the “generally accepted medical standards” in the case of second trimester abortion. Why is this decision being made by politicians, rather than expert physicians? To this point, I will read a current ACOG guideline from May 2022:
