| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| March 21, 2000 | Lindsay Sander (651-297-5600) |
St. Paul State Representative Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan) joined a bipartisan group of legislators in passing "Woman's Right to Know" legislation on Monday. The bill would simply require clinics to provide basic health information to women before they receive an abortion.
"Everyday in Minnesota, very frightened women are asked to walk into a procedure with little or no information about what they are about to go through," said Rep. Buesgens. "Women deserve to have as much information as possible before going through with a procedure that will affect them physically and emotionally for the rest of their lives. They deserve nothing less."
The bill would require clinics who provide abortions to give women information on the fetal development of her unborn child, alternatives to abortion, and the potential risks related to future childbirth. The measure also includes a 24 hour waiting period between the initial consultation and the abortion.
"I don't think it is unrealistic to expect that women have sufficient information to base their decision on," Buesgens continued. "The measure simply presents her with an opportunity to discuss her pregnancy, the abortion procedure, and ask any questions she may have in addition to receiving other printed information. It also gives her a safe place to turn for help regardless of her decision."
The Woman's Right To Know provision was included in a larger House Omnibus bill relating the health and human services. Other provisions included in the bill were an expansion of the senior drug program to the disabled and to individuals and couples with higher asset limits, and would provide increases to nursing homes for Medical Assistance reimbursement rates.
"This is common sense legislation," concluded Buesgens. "We can't afford to let women go into this important personal and emotional decision without empowering them first with information to make wise decisions."
The Woman's Right to Know bill passed the Minnesota House last year but was killed by the DFL Senate in a conference committee.
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