Michigan Gov. Whitmer: Abortions Are 'Life-Sustaining' Health Care
Michigan won't ban abortions during the coronavirus
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has declared that Michigan won't ban abortions during the coronavirus crisis, insisting the procedure is "life-sustaining" health care.
During an interview with former Barack Obama political strategist David Alexrod on his podcast, Whitmer stated:
“We stopped elective surgeries here in Michigan, and some people have tried to say that that type of a procedure is considered the same, and that’s ridiculous."
“A woman’s health care, her whole future, her ability to decide if and when she starts a family is not an election; it is a fundamental to her life," she added.
“It is life-sustaining, and it’s something that government should not be getting in the middle of.”
She was then asked if she thought the COVID-19 pandemic was a “backdoor” way for some states to completely ban abortion, or if the temporary bans were lawful policy decision to slow the spread of the virus.
“My gut is it’s the former," she said.
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"I’m not in Texas, I don’t know all the individuals involved, but I do think there is a concerted effort to use every opportunity to take away women’s ability to make our own health care decisions," the Democrat governor added.
WATCH:
On new #AxeFiles, I spoke with @GovWhitmer of Michigan about her resolve to enforce tough stay at home measures, until extensive COVID-19 testing/tracing regimen is in place. Below she explains her fears about moving too quickly.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) April 16, 2020
Full pod here:https://t.co/oZMsoGhyTk. pic.twitter.com/fV5lINVook
As Neon Nettle reported on Thursday, a group of Michigan sheriffs stood up against Whitmer declaring they will not strictly enforce her draconian stay-at-home order.
On Wednesday, Sheriffs from four different MI counties announced they are refusing to fully enforce Gov. Whitmer’s social-distancing restrictions that have been slammed by critics for going too far.
States that have moved to restrict abortion during the crisis include:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Texas
Last month, the World Health Organization said that abortion is considered an essential service during the current coronavirus pandemic, according to their statement.
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In the WHO's statement, they said:
"Services related to reproductive health are considered to be part of essential services during the COVID-19 outbreak.”
“Women’s choices and rights to sexual and reproductive health care should be respected, irrespective of whether or not she has a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection,” the statement continued.
"Sexual and reproductive health care is integral to universal health coverage and achieving the right to health," it added.
“This includes contraception, quality health care during and after pregnancy and childbirth, and safe abortion to the full extent of the law,” the organization declared.
Last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Health ordered all businesses that are not “life-sustaining" to be closed.
But abortion clinics, which do the exact opposite, were excluded from the order.
