(no subject)
So I don't even know if anyone reads livejournal anymore, but I thought I'd put this up. I had the wonderful honor of speaking at pro-choice lobby day yesterday (april 19) as campus organizer for medical students for choice next year. I tried to meet with Dallas Sams from Morris (with no luck) since he is one of the authors of the proposed "Abortion regulation Act". It makes me sick that I ever voted for him. Anyway- here is my speech, so that those of you who are pro-choice but didn't make it to lobby day can cheer along via internet!
"My name is Leigh and I’m a 1st year medical student here at the University of MN-Twin Cities. I am here to represent Medical Students for Choice- as we are tomorrow abortion providers. First of all, I want to thank every person here today so much for coming to support this cause. I became a pro-choice activist in college but when I started medical school, I realized that being an activist was not enough for me. In my future practice it is my responsibility to provide comprehensive health care to my patients, including abortion, in order to ensure that women will truly have a choice. I believe that every woman has the right to decide under what circumstances she wants to have children. Until the government provides women the tools they need to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the resources they need to raise a child in a safe and nurturing environment, they shouldn’t be making laws to prevent abortion.
As a future medical professional, I believe that government should not infringe on our duty to provide one of the safest and most common surgical procedures for our patients. Currently, there are only 7 abortion providers in 3 counties in MN and this number continues to decline. If this trend continues, soon we may be left with no abortion providers in MN. This decline is not due to a lack of public support for choice, but rather it is due to the tenacity of the anti-choice movement. These lobbyists use one restriction after another to slowly chip away at our doctors’ ability to provide abortions.
This is why it is vital that we are all here today to make our voices heard! To fight legislation that will not only decrease a woman’s access to abortion, but will make it virtually impossible for a physician to provide this service to their patients. Legislation such as the 24-hour waiting period, which simply creates more work for doctors and more confusion for patients. Or the proposed “Abortion Regulation Act”, which would require doctors to have admitting privileges in a nearby hospital. This legislation is yet another obstacle to abortion providers in rural areas. It is illogical to single out abortion procedures when NO other outpatient surgery requires any extra admitting privileges or waiting periods.
This is perhaps the most important time to be a pro-choice activist. Without people like you voicing your opinions at every possible opportunity, there may be no abortion providers left in MN; and this means MN women will be left without a choice."
Sorry if you're sick of me talking about pro-choice stuff- I swear there's more to me than this- its just this is the only thing i have time to focus my efforts on outside of med school right now!
"My name is Leigh and I’m a 1st year medical student here at the University of MN-Twin Cities. I am here to represent Medical Students for Choice- as we are tomorrow abortion providers. First of all, I want to thank every person here today so much for coming to support this cause. I became a pro-choice activist in college but when I started medical school, I realized that being an activist was not enough for me. In my future practice it is my responsibility to provide comprehensive health care to my patients, including abortion, in order to ensure that women will truly have a choice. I believe that every woman has the right to decide under what circumstances she wants to have children. Until the government provides women the tools they need to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the resources they need to raise a child in a safe and nurturing environment, they shouldn’t be making laws to prevent abortion.
As a future medical professional, I believe that government should not infringe on our duty to provide one of the safest and most common surgical procedures for our patients. Currently, there are only 7 abortion providers in 3 counties in MN and this number continues to decline. If this trend continues, soon we may be left with no abortion providers in MN. This decline is not due to a lack of public support for choice, but rather it is due to the tenacity of the anti-choice movement. These lobbyists use one restriction after another to slowly chip away at our doctors’ ability to provide abortions.
This is why it is vital that we are all here today to make our voices heard! To fight legislation that will not only decrease a woman’s access to abortion, but will make it virtually impossible for a physician to provide this service to their patients. Legislation such as the 24-hour waiting period, which simply creates more work for doctors and more confusion for patients. Or the proposed “Abortion Regulation Act”, which would require doctors to have admitting privileges in a nearby hospital. This legislation is yet another obstacle to abortion providers in rural areas. It is illogical to single out abortion procedures when NO other outpatient surgery requires any extra admitting privileges or waiting periods.
This is perhaps the most important time to be a pro-choice activist. Without people like you voicing your opinions at every possible opportunity, there may be no abortion providers left in MN; and this means MN women will be left without a choice."
Sorry if you're sick of me talking about pro-choice stuff- I swear there's more to me than this- its just this is the only thing i have time to focus my efforts on outside of med school right now!