State law must protect doctors

Nevada, be a state known for refusing to participate in acts of fascism.

I viewed the state Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor’s Feb. 20 hearing concerning Senate Bill 131.

It’s my understanding that the bill is about protecting licensed medical staff practicing and providing reproductive health care to out-of-state patients — those traveling to Nevada for reproductive health care services legally practiced in this state. The bill would assure doctors that Nevada will not participate in an out-of-state criminal prosecution of those receiving or providing reproductive health care services here.

During the hearing, a concern was raised that this bill would make Nevada a “sanctuary state” for those seeking an abortion for human trafficking victims. Insinuating that this bill would somehow protect “traffickers” is acrobatic framing and an unfounded attempt by anti-choice advocates to stop this bill from being passed.

The medical professionals practicing in Nevada need legal protections from anti-choice states attempting to criminalize the act of providing reproductive care for people, or I fear Nevada will suffer a more significant health care provider shortage.

We already have an issue with a popular nationwide pharmaceutical corporation refusing to fill prescriptions for an “abortion pill” simply for fear of reprisal by certain states that have made abortion illegal. With the ever-increasing anti-choice legislation in certain states, a bill such as this is unfortunately necessary.

Nevada, protect our doctors. Mary Hansen, Las Vegas