STATEMENT: NH GOP Passes Legislation That Violates Patient Privacy

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire Republicans in the State Senate today passed an amendment that would violate patient privacy by requiring abortion providers to tell the state for the first time where and when they’ve performed abortions, the age and state residence of the patient, and the method they used to end the pregnancy. The amendment would also reinstate ultrasounds, including transvaginal ultrasounds, at every abortion regardless of the stage of pregnancy. In response, NHDP Chair Ray Buckley released the following statement: 

“New Hampshire Republicans trampled on our state’s decades-long tradition of patient privacy by passing an amendment they crafted behind closed doors — with no input from the public or health care providers — that would force abortion providers to give the state sensitive information about when, where, how, and the age and residence of who they perform abortions on. This amendment would also force providers to perform invasive ultrasounds for every abortion. This is the latest example of the NH GOP’s extreme, anti-choice agenda that includes passing the first abortion ban in modern New Hampshire history and defunding Planned Parenthood. Make no mistake, the future of reproductive freedom and abortion access are on the ballot this November.”