Mass. Gov. signs order protecting reproductive health care providers who serve out-of-state residents
Mass. Gov. signs order protecting reproductive health care providers who serve out-of-state residents: On Friday, Republican Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts signed an executive order to provide legal protections for reproductive health care practitioners who serve citizens of other states. These provisions will go into effect immediately.
Baker, a rare Republican who supports protecting abortion rights, stated in a release that he was “deeply disappointed” in the decision of the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the case that made abortion a right that was protected by the federal government. Roe v. Wade made abortion a right that was protected by the federal government.
He stated that he signed the order as a reaction to the decision made by the court as well as the subsequent and anticipated moves taken by other states to either outright ban abortions or severely restrict access to them.
Baker stated that “in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, it is especially important to ensure that Massachusetts providers can continue to provide reproductive health care services without concern that the laws of other states may be used to interfere with those services or sanction them for providing services that are lawful in the Commonwealth.” “In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, it is especially important to ensure that Massachusetts providers can continue to provide reproductive health care services without concern that the laws of
More than a dozen states have legislation on the books that, if triggered, would make abortion illegal either immediately upon the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade or not long afterward. Following the decision handed down by the court early on Friday morning, approximately half of those states’ restrictions had already taken effect.
If the governments of certain states decide to outlaw or severely restrict abortion, it is possible that people of those states will attempt to relocate to other states where the practice is permitted.
According to the statement, the order also bars any executive agency from helping another state investigate anyone getting or giving reproductive health services that are legal in Massachusetts. This provision applies to anyone receiving or delivering these services in Massachusetts.
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, abortion is lawful up to the 24th week of pregnancy. However, doctors are allowed to conduct an abortion after this point if the mother’s life is in danger or if it is determined that the fetus would not survive outside of the womb.
Additionally, the ruling shields health care providers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from the possibility of having their licenses revoked due to accusations brought by authorities in other states. Additionally, the commonwealth will not cooperate with any extradition demands that come from other jurisdictions that are seeking criminal charges against anyone who received or conducted reproductive services in the state of Massachusetts.
In the announcement, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito of the Republican party stated, “We are proud of the Commonwealth’s legacy of supporting access to reproductive health care, and we will continue to do so.”
