NEWS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
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LANSING – Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday released the following statements after the Michigan Court of Claims issued an injunction in Northland v. Nessel.
“Today’s injunction ensures women in Michigan can make their own decisions about their own bodies.
“The 24-hour waiting period has no basis in science. It is a political roadblock put in place to shame and inconvenience women, often forcing them to pay more to get the care they need or denying them that care altogether.
"And the statutory consent requirement put in place by anti-choice legislators is a misnomer, too. Every medical procedure, including abortion, already requires extensive conversations between providers and patients to ensure informed consent.
"Eliminating the statute’s requirement for doctors to provide incorrect, unscientific information will ensure they can speak to patients without using a script drawn up by politicians and can get true consent for medical procedures.
"And expanding the pool of qualified medical professionals who can provide care will ensure access for all Michiganders.”
“By removing these barriers to reproductive health care, we will ensure Michigan is a state where you can make the medical decisions that are best for you and your family in consultation with your doctor.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel issues the following statement:
“Today, the Court of Claims held that several abortion regulations under Michigan law are largely inconsistent with Michigan’s constitutional right to reproductive freedom and only ‘exacerbate[ ] the burdens that patients experience seeking abortion care.’ These laws include a mandatory 24-hour waiting period and uniform informed consent as well as a requirement that only physicians perform abortions, as opposed to Advanced Practice Clinicians such as nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician assistants.
"These provisions only served to delay and mislead patients, which is contradictory to the goals of healthcare. We applaud the Court for this decision and remain undeterred in our work to protect reproductive care for all Michigan residents.”
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