Lawmakers are responsible for creating, amending and passing laws that are in the best interest of all their constituents. Yet, Kansas lawmakers have managed to misinterpret their job description as that of a doctor, yet again, with the proposition of House Bill 2729.
The bill would “amend informed consent provisions of the Woman’s-Right-to-Know Act (Act) concerning required information and required notice signs for both abortion procedures and medication abortion.”
This bill was introduced per the request of the pro-life organization Kansans for Life, and passed 31-9 in the Senate and 87-37 in the House.
Governor Laura Kelly vetoed it, as well as House Bill 2727, which would make it easier for individuals who have had abortions to sue doctors or clinics for providing a necessary medical procedure.
It’s unsettling that Kansas lawmakers are attempting to manipulate their way back into the offices of medical professionals and their patients on behalf of pro-life organizations and ideology.
In 2022, the people of this state rejected the Value Them Both Amendment, securing the right for an individual to make the medical decision to have an abortion. Citizens of Kansas have made it clear that we don’t want the government involved in women’s decisions about pregnancy.
Kelly considered Kansas lawmakers’ decision to advocate for these bills preposterous, stating, “Kansans have made it clear that they want the government to stay out of women’s private health care decisions. This bill does the opposite” and “At some point, I hope the politicians in Topeka will recognize that Kansans want them out of their doctors’ offices, but until they do, I’ll continue to veto bills like this” about HB 2927.
Advocates for HB 2729 will tell you that this bill shouldn’t be controversial. The requirement that physicians provide patients with approved packets with government-controlled verbiage of informed consent, risks of abortion and “abortion reversal” are formalities.
In response, the question that needs to be asked is what exactly do they believe is going on in these rooms? There is already an efficient and effective process set in place.
It seems convenient that a system that has worked well for thousands of people in this state suddenly needs to be changed to appease politicians and religious advocates.
It’s important to note that another advocate for HB 2729 includes the Kansas Catholic Conference. Lucrecia Nold, the organization’s policy specialist, stated that this bill was vital, saying, “Many women who obtain abortions do so under pressure, without adequate information and later experience profound grief and regret. Informed consent is not a bureaucratic formality. It is a safeguard for human dignity.”
The Kansas Catholic Conference heavily promoted the Value Them Both bill. The hypocrisy in Nold’s statement is astounding. To speak so passionately about women who obtain abortions under pressure while simultaneously being part of an organization that advocated for women to be pressured into pregnancy is dumbfounding.
Many of the governor’s vetoes were overridden prior to the legislative session concluding. As Kansans we have to see these bills for what they are.
This is not about the residents of this state, our best interest or even our consent. This isn’t about protecting individuals needing, wanting or simply having abortions. This is about Kansas lawmakers forcing pro-life ideology on its residents to advance their political agenda.
