Max Dodge

I strongly oppose HB 232, which would allow healthcare providers to refuse to prescribe or provide birth control, abortion services, and sterilization based on personal beliefs. This bill prioritizes the opinions of providers over the medical needs and rights of patients, creating unnecessary barriers to essential healthcare. Birth control is a fundamental part of reproductive healthcare, used not only for family planning but also for managing conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. Denying access based on personal objections undermines medical ethics, disproportionately harms women—especially in the rural or underserved areas of NH—and disregards the principle of patient autonomy in making informed healthcare decisions. HB 232 also sets a dangerous precedent by allowing personal beliefs to dictate patient care, which could lead to further erosion of access to necessary medical treatments. Patients should not have to navigate ideological roadblocks when seeking standard healthcare services. This bill risks increasing unintended pregnancies in a time when access to labor and delivery facilities is at a critical low and worsening public health outcomes, contradicting well-established medical and public health research. Legislators should reject HB 232 and uphold policies that protect patients’ rights to comprehensive, evidence-based medical care without undue interference.