While we see a handful of states attempting to take away women’s reproductive rights, Maine is going in a different direction. The state’s governor, Janet Mills signed a bill that allows physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions. Governor Mills said:
“By signing this bill into law, Maine is defending the rights of women and taking a step towards equalizing access to care as other states are seeking to undermine, rollback, or outright eliminate these services.”
Mills adds:
“Allowing qualified and licensed medical professionals to perform abortions will ensure that Maine women, especially those in rural areas, are able to access critical reproductive health care services when and where they need them from qualified providers they know and trust. These health care professionals are trained in family planning, counseling, and abortion procedures, the overwhelming majority of which are completed without complications.”
Oamshri Amarasingham, Advocacy Director for the ACLU of Maine points out:
“As other states pass laws outlawing abortion, Maine’s leaders have stepped up to protect the health and well-being of individuals and families in our great state. This law will help eliminate a significant barrier to abortion access in Maine and ensure that each of us can make decisions about our health and our future without political interference.”
And Nicole Clegg, Vice President of Public Policy at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England adds:
“Quite simply, voters are done with lawmakers using our health, our bodies, and our lives for political games. As more and more states pass laws stripping away access to reproductive health care, Maine has passed a law to increase access to abortion care. This is what leadership looks like.”