Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
December 3, 2021
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist144865I am vetoing Senate Bill 592 in its entirety. Senate Bill 592 mandates that physicians who administer a prenatal or postnatal test for a congenital condition and receive a positive test result disseminate certain information related to the congenital condition to their patients, instead of allowing physicians to use evidence-based practices and their knowledge and expertise as medical professionals to advise parents.
I am vetoing Senate Bill 592 in its entirety because I object to legislation that dictates the conversations between a patient and their healthcare professionals. Physicians take an oath to provide patients with medically accurate information so patients can make informed decisions about their health and healthcare. I trust our doctors to use existing resources in a manner that meets ethical treatment standards, and to have honest, open, and confidential conversations with their patients without politicians interfering with the terms of those conversations.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor
_____________
State of Wisconsin
Office of the Governor
December 3, 2021
The Honorable, the Senate:
hist144866I am vetoing Senate Bill 593 in its entirety. This bill would prohibit abortion in certain circumstances based on the perceived reason the patient has obtained the abortion and allows claims for damages to be brought by certain people if a prohibited abortion is performed.
I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to politicians interfering between patients and their healthcare providers. Wisconsinites have the right to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions. Licenses healthcare professionals should be trusted to give appropriate, evidence-based medical advice. SB 593 would substantially erode and interfere with the patient and provider relationship by encouraging healthcare professionals to evaluate and even question the bases of patients’ decisions. Further, it discourages honest, meaningful conversations between a patient and their physician while inviting intimidation of healthcare professionals by creating a path to legal damages for multiple parties.
I trust women to make the best reproductive healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. These are deeply personal determinations that should be made between a patient and their physician and nobody else.
Respectfully submitted,
TONY EVERS
Governor