Health-care choices

As a young physician who received her medical education in Arkansas, I care about the health and well-being of my neighbors. This is why I am deeply concerned that, as of May 29, no woman in Arkansas will be able to make the decision to have a medication abortion due to an Arkansas abortion restriction effectively making medication abortion illegal.

This newly enforced law requires abortion providers to have contracts with other physicians who have hospital admitting privileges under the pretense this makes women safer. This does not make women safer and will instead force women to travel longer distances and undergo surgical abortion or carry an undesired pregnancy to term. Legal early abortions are incredibly safe, and measures are already in place to provide continuing care. Neither is this the way health care works for literally any other prescription medication. Additionally, this law is almost identical to the Texas law that the Supreme Court struck down in 2016 as an “undue burden” on a person’s access to abortion.

Regardless of one’s personal views, it is shameful for lobbyists and politicians to promote legislation on false pretenses. We all value patient safety and we all value the right to make nuanced personal decisions about our medical care. So at the end of the day, who do you want making decisions about your medical care? Lobbyists and politicians, or you and your doctor? HANNAH RADECKI Little Rock