too sweet to die

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

In a peace offering of sorts to medical and women’s groups on Thursday, Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek announced rules for the new state-run Women’s Health Program that permit doctors to discuss abortion with their patients and practice alongside physicians who provide abortions. […]

State officials quickly began debating new rules for the refashioned state-run program. As originally proposed, they would’ve prohibited discussion of abortion between physicians and patients in the program, a measure strongly opposed by the Texas Medical Association, which represents about 47,000 physicians and medical students statewide. TMA called the rule a “gag order” and claimed it endangered patients’ relationships with their physicians. […]

On Thursday, Janek acknowledged that the drafted rule “was a bit of a gag rule.” Under the final rule, doctors cannot call abortion providers on behalf of patients, but can give names and contact information.

“What seemed to make the big play was that a physician could not talk to her patient about something that was legal and allowable,” Janek said. “We wanted to clear that up.” […]

New rules go into effect Nov. 1

HOW KIND OF THE STATE OF TEXAS TO ALLOW DOCTORS TO TALK TO THEIR PATIENTS ABOUT A LEGAL MEDICAL PROCEDURE AND PROVIDE THEM MEDICAL INFORMATION. 

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NOW? THIS? 

[NB: more people than just cis women need and want access to abortion care.]