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| Date: | February 1, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Susan Closmore | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-5712 | | Contact Email: | susan.closmore@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR GAZELKA, REPRESENTATIVE LEMIEUR AUTHORS BILL PROTECTING WOMEN, BANNING WEBCAM ABORTIONS |
St. Paul—In an effort to protect women from the risk of death or serious complications, Senator Paul Gazelka (R-Brainerd) and Representative Mike LeMieur (R-Little Falls) authored a bill (SF 1540) to require a physician to be physically present in the same room with a patient when that physician performs, induces, or attempts to perform or induce an abortion.
According to Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), a Rochester clinic began performing abortions via webcams in 2011. During these abortions, the physician was not in the room beside the patient when the abortion was performed. Instead, the abortionist was at the Planned Parenthood Abortion Center in St. Paul. MCCL requested that legislators work on a bill to protect mothers and their unborn babies. If passed into law, Senator Gazelka and Representative LeMieur’s bill would make it a felony violation but no civil or criminal penalty will be assessed against the patient.
“I am dedicated to protecting life – both mother and unborn child. Performing abortions via webcams, with female patients alone with a clinic employee while the licensed doctor is miles away is dangerous. Administration of the RU486 abortion drug carries serious risks, even when a physician is physically present. The procedure can result in complications with a woman’s reproductive, cardiovascular, digestive, and central nervous systems and even death. This is simply reckless and Minnesotans should demand better,” said Senator Gazelka. “I’m proud to author this bill, banning webcam abortions from happening in Minnesota. I remain steadfastly committed to protecting mothers and unborn babies, the most precious lives we have in this world.”
“This bill is about protecting the health and well-being of women,” said Representative LeMieur. “Any sort of major medical procedure should be done under the direct care of a physician, especially one this potentially dangerous.”
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