On July 13th, 2009, Governor Jan Brewer signed the abortion omnibus bill into law. Click here to read the full text. Supporters have said that this legislation is meant to empower women to make an informed decision when they are considering pregnancy termination. Some of the measures included in this law are:

• A mandatory 24 hour waiting period.
• A mandatory requirement for 2 office visits.
• A mandatory discussion of fetal development.
• A mandatory discussion of services that may be available to patients if they choose to continue their pregnancy.
• A provision which allows healthcare workers to refuse to provide emergency contraception (the morning after pill).

The providers and staff at Tucson Women’s Center also believe in empowering you as you make decisions involving your reproductive health. You can determine your pregnancy status without an appointment by accessing our free pregnancy testing and ultrasound services. We also offer free consultation with a physician or staff member to discuss all of your options. Because we offer services that support you regardless of your decision, our counselors are both unbiased and nonjudgmental.

Our website features information on state and local programming to help you if you choose to parent (click on the community resources link), as well as information for patients who are considering adoption. Online educational material, including information on fetal development, is also available. If you would rather not have the personal views of your pharmacist imposed on you, you can purchase Plan B (the morning after pill) from our online store for shipping or office pick-up.

The true nature of any organization is best seen not in its mission statements or sound bites, but in how and where it uses its resources. As you visit our office and explore our website, you will see that our priority is empowerment through education. The passage of the omnibus bill together with the slashing of our state budget as it relates to the support of pregnant women, children, families, and education speaks volumes about the commitment of our lawmakers to empower women.

We will continue to fight for real empowerment for the women of our state, and we invite you to stand with us. If you believe that this is not your fight, then you should consider this: as your children begin the school year with fewer teachers, books, and programs, part of the money that could have gone to them will be used to create bureaucracies to support these laws and others like them. This is everyone’s fight, and we intend to pursue all legal options to prevent this law from going into effect.