Position Statement – 2023

A.1594 (Rosenthal)

Support

The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) supports the passage of A.1594 (Rosenthal) which would amend both Public Health Law and Mental Hygiene Law to provide additional aftercare support for individuals who have suffered a pregnancy loss.

Specifically, this legislation would require the department of Health and Mental Hygiene to create a pamphlet of mental health resources for those who have suffered a pregnancy loss, including, but not limited to, miscarriage, stillbirth or abortion. Additionally, this legislation requires healthcare practitioners to provide a copy of such pamphlet to patients during the first appointment following a pregnancy loss, along with an adequate supply of menstrual products to help with their aftercare.

Pregnancy loss of any kind can be a devastating event in the life of a woman and her family.  Despite being medically common, many patients who experience pregnancy loss are not provided with any mental health resources, making it more difficult for patients to tend to their mental health needs and cope with the loss. This legislation recognizes that women should be apprised of the mental health resources available to them to address any effects they may experience from pregnancy loss and that providing a list of those resources will help women should they determine such services are needed.