Massachusetts passes ’emergency amendment’ protecting nurses who commit abortions

On January 8, 2025, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced an emergency amendment to protect nurses who commit or assist in abortions.

According to MassLive, the amendment codifies a state shield law protecting nurses “from disqualification from licensure and from board discipline for providing, or assisting in providing, reproductive health care services in Massachusetts.” The amendment was approved unanimously by the state’s Department of Public Health’s Board of Registration in Nursing. Per WCVB, the “emergency” aspect means it can go into effect immediately and will be in effect for three months while it undergoes regular review. During the review timeline, public comment will open before the amendment can be formally adopted by the Board of Registration.

Shield laws are particularly dangerous, because in protecting abortionists, they may fail to protect women who may be injured by abortion. In many states, nurses are not allowed to commit abortions due to the risk of complications involved, but in Massachusetts, these nurses now have the weight of the state on their side if a woman is harmed.

READ: Legal group urges Meta: Restore pro-life accounts, and ‘practice what you preach’

The amendment was just the latest in an increasing effort by the state to expand abortion. Days prior, Healey’s office announced Massachusetts will be using $1.8 million in state funds to help low-income women to pay for abortions and to upgrade current abortion facilities.

“When Roe was overturned, we worked with the Legislature to take immediate action to protect providers and patients from liability for providing or receiving an abortion. Today, with attacks on reproductive health care and providers escalating across the country, we’re proud to take action to further strengthen those protections,” Healey said in a statement.

“In Massachusetts, we’re always going to protect people’s rights and freedoms, and we’re going to make sure that everyone can access the high-quality health care they need,” she added.

Dr. Robbie Goldstein, the state’s public health commissioner, also praised the measure.

“This action by the Board of Registration in Nursing sends a powerful and reassuring message to the dedicated Massachusetts nurses who provide compassionate, high-quality, reproductive and gender-affirming health care,” Goldstein said.

Tell President Trump, RFK, Jr., Elon, and Vivek:

Stop killing America’s future. Defund Planned Parenthood NOW!