Minn. Gov. Dayton Vetoes Medication Abortion Restrictions

May 2, 2012 — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) on Monday vetoed a bill (SF 2128) that would have required doctors to be physically present when administering medication abortion drugs, the Minneapolis Star Tribune's "Hot Dish Politics" reports. Last week, Dayton vetoed a bill (SF 1921) that would have mandated licensing of abortion clinics.

SF 2128 would have required a physician to be in the same room as a woman when prescribing her medication drugs and when she used them.

In his veto letter, Dayton defended the practice of administering medication abortion through the use of telemedicine, calling it "safe, accessible and cost-effective for patients." He added that the bill would have created barriers for women in need of abortion services, as well as the doctors who care for them. "Minnesota's laws should not target or restrict the constitutional rights of women," he wrote.

Supporters of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Joyce Peppin (R), maintained it was needed to protect women from negative health effects of abortion-inducing drugs. Opponents countered that the drugs have a lower side effect rate than Viagra or Tylenol (Brooks, "Hot Dish Politics," Minneapolis Star Tribune, 4/30).