LANSING – State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores) introduced legislation today to allow doctors to provide evidence-based, safe, and medically appropriate care to their patients without the risk of breaking the law.
“We have seen bills signed into law, and legislation under consideration now, making it difficult if not impossible, for women to receive the medical care that they need, and that is why I am introducing this bill today,” said Rep. Roberts. “My bill will take politics out of the exam room, and allows doctors and their assistants to provide the most appropriate medical care their patients need.”
Rep. Roberts’ bill will provide immunity to a doctor or medical professional who provides patient care that in the physician’s good faith medical judgement is in compliance with accepted, evidenced-based medical practices or is medically appropriate for that patient.
Currently a doctor can be fined up to $10,000 for billing for a necessary medical procedure if that procedure is not covered under a separate insurance rider. Two bills currently being debated in the House will also punish doctors for providing care, which some politicians don’t agree with, to a woman in her second trimester.
“What happens in a doctor’s office is between the doctor and the patient, and politicians should not interject themselves into that conversation” said Roberts. “My bill will ensure that no health care provider is forced to choose between following a political agenda and abiding by the ethical, professional and medical standards that they have vowed to uphold.”