Inslee joins Democratic governors to prompt federal action to protect rights to c patient Privacy

Gov. Jay Inslee and eight other Democratic governors met with President Joe Biden on Friday, July 1 to discuss state actions to protect the rights to choice and patient privacy, and to inform federal actions to protect access to abortion and contraception. The recent Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization destroyed federal constitutional protections for abortion.

“What we are experiencing here is a Republican effort to impose minority decisions in a democracy,” said Gov. Jay Inslee during an appearance on Meet the Press last Friday.

On Friday, July 8, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that reinforces legal protections and pharmaceutical access related to reproductive care. The order helps protect access to FDA-approved medication abortion and emergency contraception. The order also helps protect patient privacy by reminding providers that they are not generally required to disclose patients’ private information. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will soon begin an education campaign to ensure patients have reliable and accurate information about their rights and access to care.

Washington state is a pro-choice state with protections for the rights to choice and patient privacy. Inslee and state legislators are taking additional action to seek a state constitutional amendment to protect abortion. Inslee recently issued an executive order to prohibit state police cooperation with out-of-state prosecution related to abortion, and he allocated $1 million in emergency funding to support providers expecting increased demand.

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