MPA | Pharmacy News

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive directive Wednesday telling state agencies to not cooperate with any other state or authority attempting to prosecute anyone who obtains, provides or assists with obtaining an abortion or other forms of reproductive health care.

The directive also calls on applicable agencies to increase protections for reproductive health care and take steps to raise awareness about availability of reproductive health care and forms of contraception.

"However we personally feel about abortion, health, not politics, should drive important medical decisions," Whitmer said in a statement. "A woman must be able to make her own medical decisions with the advice of a healthcare professional she trusts. Politicians should not make that decision for her.”

Additionally, the directive calls on state departments and agencies to:

• Review aspects of reproductive health care that fall under their jurisdiction and identify any opportunity to increase protections for reproductive health care.
• Submit a review to Whitmer's office in the next 30 days detailing how to increase health choices on mental, physical and reproductive health, provide care for individuals who undergo miscarriages, protect the privacy of individuals seeking health care, and provide safety for health care providers.
• Departments communicating directly with the public must provide information on costs and availability on reproductive health care.
• Increase public awareness on the availability and effectiveness of different forms of contraception.