Yesterday:

DrAmyA @AmyAddante
Today I was forced by the state of Missouri to perform an unnecessary pelvic exam on a patient terminating her pregnancy for a fetal anomaly. She is heartbroken over her situation and I was forced to do an invasive, uncomfortable exam. It broke me as a physician to do this to her
3:57 PM – 3 Jun 2019

Some of the conversation:

That was likely the intent. To affect both the physician and the patient.

What is the law for?

The state of Missouri requires all abortion patients to have a pelvic exam both 72 hours prior to and on the day of their abortion.

For what reason? How do they justify that?

There are multiple requirements by the state that literally have no medical basis. They contradict #ACOG and #SMFM recommendations and best practices but it is the law and I am required to comply otherwise risk criminal charges and loss of license

Tell me again why politicians questioned about climate change respond “we’re not scientists”, but all become gynecologists when it comes to women’s health?!

Just curious…was the exam witnessed?

Yes.

This is the Middle Ages

Handmaid’s Tale

Did you violate your oath to do no harm? [….]

It sure as hell felt like it. I was forced to perform a speculum exam on a woman already in distress and it literally had no impact on how I cared for her. That feels like harm. It also felt like a huge violation of my autonomy as a medical professional.

The exam is medically unnecessary. There is no purpose aside from putting up as many roadblocks as possible to women seeking abortion and to doctors trying to provide them. It’s unconscionable.

Previously:

HB 126 and HB 127: catering to their single issue base (December 3, 2018)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): Alabama, hold my beer… (May 15, 2019)

Gov. Mike Parson (r): New York is shorthand for what? (May 16, 2019)

Medieval (May 17, 2019)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): post session victory dance over any individal woman’s personal medical decisions (May 17, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the 13th Century GOP in 21st Century America (May 20, 2019)

HB 126: the elephant in the womb (May 24, 2019)

HB 126: “…here for the ratio” (May 25, 2016)

Missouri: Medieval (May 28, 2019)

ACLU: Referendum Petition filed on HB 126 (May 28, 2019)

Women’s Health Care in Missouri – 1, Gov. Mike Parson (r) – 0 (May 31, 2019)

Our nation turns its eyes to Missouri (June 1, 2019)

State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D): Gov. Mike Parson (r) and HB 126 – “…extreme and cruel.” (June 3, 2019)