Hawaii Gov. David Y. Ige stood his ground on women’s reproductive rights by issuing an Executive Order Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services in Hawaii.
“Abortion is legal in Hawaii,” Ige in a press release from his office. “Reproductive rights are protected by state law and the state constitution. We will not cooperate with any other state that tries to prosecute women who receive abortions in Hawaii. And we will not cooperate with any other state that tries to sanction medical professionals who provide abortions in Hawaii."
“Effective immediately, departments and agencies under my authority shall not provide any information, including medical records, data or billing, to another state seeking to impose penalties upon a person or entity related to reproductive health services in Hawaii.”
The order was applauded by State Representative Linda Ichiyama and Reni Soon, M.D., OB/GYN.
“I am deeply grateful for the support and protection for Hawaii’s healthcare providers being established today via Gov. Ige’s executive order,” Rep. Ichiyama said in the release. “In these uncertain times, we must remain vigilant to ensure access to reproductive health care in all forms, for everyone in our community.”
Dr. Soon added, “Abortion is healthcare. Major medical and public health organizations have stated this because it’s been shown time and again, that when access to abortion is denied, people and communities are harmed. Those of us who are in Hawaii’s communities every day providing compassionate and evidence-based abortion and abortion-related care thank Governor Ige and his administration for supporting us and standing with us.”
Ige joins the governors of Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, who have adopted similar positions this year protecting reproductive health services provided in their states. Hawaii was the first state in the United States to decriminalize abortion over 52 years ago.