Weekly Edition | April 14th | By: NP-staff

Phoenix, Ariz – Today Rep. Eric Meyer, D-Paradise Valley (District 11), urged Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to take the concerns of medical professionals seriously and veto HB 2625.

This controversial bill would require women to “prove” that they aren’t using birth control as contraception and allows employers to get involved in an employee’s confidential medical concerns. Meyer, who is a medical doctor, said the bill goes too far and intrudes on the doctor/patient relationship.

HB 2625 failed a Senate vote last month. Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix (District 7), asked for the bill to be reconsidered and voted on again. HB 2625 passed Thursday 17-13.

Also on Thursday, Gov. Brewer signed HB 2036, a bill that will criminalize doctors who perform abortions after 20 weeks on mothers whose babies have lethal anomalies found by ultrasound.

“This is an unfortunate day for women and the medical professionals who provide care for them in this state,” Meyer said.

He added that by signing HB 2036, the governor has set a dangerous precedent.

“She set in statute a standard of care that isn’t the same standard recommended by the American College of Ob/Gyns,” Meyer said, adding that many of his colleagues in the medical profession called the governor’s office to oppose HB 2036.

“I hope that Gov. Brewer will not ignore the concerns of the medical community again and instead vetoes HB 2625” Meyer said.  “This is an extremist bill that favors an extremist agenda over the confidentiality and safety of women in Arizona.”