Opinion: We are health care providers. An Iowa abortion ban will harm our patients.

Abortion is a personal health care decision. More than 60% of Iowans support safe and accessible abortion care. As health care professionals, we know this decision should be made by a patient and their health care provider — not by Gov. Kim Reynolds and big government. Reynolds supports a near-total abortion ban and has called a special legislative session to try to impose this extreme agenda on everyday Iowans.

More: Editorial: Iowa abortion special session is poised to take away women's rights

The choice of when and whether or not to have a child is one that affects every aspect of an individual's life, and each person's situation is unique.

As a diverse group of health care providers, we recognize the impact that pregnancy has on the health of our patients. We call on the governor and Legislature to abandon the plan to limit our patients’ abilities to access evidence-based care, which may be life-saving.

When pregnancy complications arise, abortion bans limit our ability to provide the standard of care to our patients, further risking their health and lives. There is already a shortage of health care providers in this state, and government mandates restricting our ability to provide the best care possible may make this worse. Physicians have left states with similar bans in place. Exceptions often don't work in practice, as pregnancy is too complicated and unpredictable to legislate.

As health care professionals — in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics, and more — we urge you to redirect your efforts to improving the lives of Iowans. Leave medical decision-making to individuals, and stay out of our exam rooms.

This statement from Iowans for Health Liberty is signed by: Aaron McConeghey, Aastha Chandra, Abbey Hardy-Fairbanks MD, Abby Davison, Abbygale Willging, Abby Maples MPH, BS, BSN, RN, Abigail Beard, Abigail Eastman, Abigail Mancuso MD, Abigayle Lund, Adam Games, Addi Knock, Adelaide Gurwell, Adrienne Nguyen, AJ Chowdhury, Akshaya Warrier, Alaina Lundquist, Alec Jackson, Alexander Kures, Alex Lefkow, Alex Marti, Alex Ngo, Alina Beltrami, Alisa Kindig, Alisha Harvat, Alison Lynch MD, MS, Alison Megrath, Alivia Jackson RN, Allie Wampler, Allison Sponder RN, Beth N Carlson CNM, Bradley Fleming, Brad Van Voorhis MD, Brandice Armstrong MSN, Brandy Mitchell NP, Breanna Herring, Brenden A. Steele, Brenden Starkey, Briana Barclay MD, Bridget Easler, Brittany Pederson DO, Caitlin Mostek, Caitlynn Tubbs, Caity Owens MS3, Cameron Keomanivong, Cameron Moore, Cameron Vannoy, Carina Hansen, Carli McNab, Carlyn Haas, Carol Chesterman, Carol Powers, Carryn Anderson MD, Casper Mars, Cassandra Simpson RN, Cate Bradley MD, Catherine Bachur, Cecilia Redmond-Norris MD, Chance Johnson, Chandana Kodavatiganti, Chante Huen RN, Chelsea Garcia, Chelsea Lafreniere, Chloe Butler, Chris Arend, Christine Loo, Christopher Ketter, Christopher R Matson DO, Cindy Ramsay, Clara M Hess, Clara Wilhelm MS3, Clare Harney MD, MPH, Claudia Xie, Colleen Bloeser, Colleen Peterson Grace RN BSN, Cory Baughman, Cosette Boone, Courtney Swanson, Crystal Sheeley, Cynthia A. Wong MD, Cynthia Hoque DO, Dana Danley MD, Dan Gabrielson DO, Daniel Carolin, Allyson Aderman, Alysha Reese ARNP, Alyssa Krueger, Alyssa Schmidt, Alyssa Wood, Amanda Ceballos, Amanda Redhead RN, Amanda Say, Amarjot Singh, Amber Goodrich CNM, ARNP, Amy Bingaman MD, Amy Epstein CNM, Amy Shriver MD, Amy Zeller, Andrea Bashore RN BSN, Andrea Fjelstul-Bonert MS3, Andrea Greiner MD, Andrea Lundberg RN, Andrew Bisenius, Aneli Villa, Angela Pembroke ARNP, Angella Welch ARNP, Anna Aldrich, Anna Baumer, Anna Geiger, Anna Greenwood MD, Anna Thompson, Anne Forcey CNM, Annemarie Gilley, Annika Ellis, Ann Rathe MD, Anthony El-Sokkary, Anushka Khanna, April Clark RN, Ariana Mitra, Arshaq Saleem, Arshin Sheybani, Ashlee Misiag, Ashley Hurd-Jackson, Ashley Kaiser MD, Ashley Ulsh, Ashlynne Clark, Ashrita Raghuram, Attilina Scioneaux, Austin Baeth MD, Autum Larsen, Ava Bayless, Avery Hand, Aya Iwamoto, Becca Lange, Ben Howard DO, Benjamin Grimm, Bennett Oden MD, Bennett Stephens, Danielle Burnett, Dante Mautino, Darby Manternach, Darius Argentinis, Darla Stone RN, Dawn Ebach, Devan Heinrichs, Devin Moffat, Diana Jalal, Diana Kaufman MD, Dinah M. Conti MD, Dominique Mata, Dr Abbie Ruisch, Dr Abbi Madden, Dr Adam Andrews, Dr Bridget Voigt, Dr Cynthia Juhler, Dr Heidi Close, Dr Katherine Hauser, Dr Kelly Ferroni, Dr Lara Sheehi, Dr Lillian Erdahl, Dr Mary Morriss, Dr Michael Baker, Dr Nicole Davis, Dr Sara Mackerley, Dustin N MS3, Eileen O'Connor, Elena Volfson, Elizabeth Baker MD, Elizabeth Bonillo-Ruth, Elizabeth Hoskins, Elizabeth W Boggs MD, Ella Nail, Elyse N. Brock MD, Emerson Eoff, Emily Appleton, Emily Boevers MD, Emily Capper, Emily Hamilton, Emily Janio, Emily Ruba MD, Emily Trudeau MD, Emma Danks, Emma Drahos, Emma Gordin, Emma Phelps M2, Emma Wolfman, Emory McManimon, Erica Preblich, Erica Testani, Erin Casey MD, Erin Stober, Faith Cequena, Jessica Baer Karnell, Jessica Baker, Jessica Halyko, Jessica Kresowik MD, Jessica Mullenix, Jessica Poulsen, Jessica Stelle Swab, Jessica Zuzga-Reed DO, Jill Endres MD MS, Jill Meadows MD, Jodi Tate MD, Joelle Bruckert-Frisk, John Allen, John Grace, John Paszek MD, Jonathan Altman, Jon Sikora, Jordan Bruns, Jordan Hamilton, Joseph Wickard, Joshua Broussard, Joshua Waits, Josi Barscz, Josie Rempt, Judi Halbach, Julia Farruggia MD, Julia Lange DO, Julia Shelton, Julia Vo, Julie Gleason ARNP, Juvelian Bathory, Kaaren R Olesen DO, Kara Rueschenberg, Karla Solheim MD, FACOG, Karlea Norby, Katelyn Maliszewski, Kate Pfaff CNM, Katherine Burns, Katherine Dinges LISW, Katherine McDonald, Katherine Parker Bryden CNM, Katherine Taylor, Kathleen Delgado Villatoro, Kathleen Graves, Kathleen Johnson, Kathryn Sharp, Kathy Lamb ARNP, Kathy LePera RN, Katie Baumann, Katie Higham-Kessler, Katie Kreamer ARNP, Katie Lundquist, Katie Thompson ARNP, Kaye Anania, Fatemeh Kargarzadeh, Finnegan Riley Meadows MSN, Francesca Turner DO, Frank H. Morriss, Jr. MD, Gabriela Maceda Mireles RN, Gabriel Ewert, Gabrielle Duncan, Gina Erickson MD, Gitali Piekarska Guanel, Glenda Rabe, Grace Chabal, Grace Nelson, Grace Ryan, Grant Stalker, Hannah, Hannah Forrestal, Hannah Maschino, Hannah McKay, Hannah Nakatsuka, Hannah O’Neill, Hannah Stebral, Hanna Tarleton, Harmony Lear, Harry Bui, Heather Marthers MD, Heather Richards CMA, Heather Slifka, Helen Lozier, Hend Al-Kaylani, Hirali Kadakia, Holly Bolger MD, Ingrid Lizarraga, Isabel Dominguez, Jaci Philippi RN, Jack Caplan, Jack Ohringer, Jacob Bogost, Jamie Butterworth ARNP, Jami Maxson MD, Janel Miner ARNP, CNM, Jason Wilbur MD, Jayden Amsler, Jeanne Dobrzynski RN, Jeffery Foltz, Jeffrey Goddard, Jeffrey Morris MD, Jenna Johnson, Jennifer Abler DO, Jennifer DeVore, Jennifer Gabel DO, Jennifer Killion MD, Jenny Schuchmann MD, Jesse Chan, Jess Hediger, Kayla Horner, Kayla Matteo, Kelsey Lee Wagner MD, Kelsie Linderblood OMS-IV, Kendall Cornick, Kendi Burnette-Phelps, Kendra Mathaya, Kerry Hurd, Kerry Rodabaugh MD, Kevin Doerschug, Kiara Festing-Smith DO, Kiersten Cartwright, Kiley Crivaro, Kimberlee Borneman, Kim Frank, Kim Tweedy, Kinzie Matzeller, Korbyn Bolton ARNP, Krista Pearl, Kristen Ernsperger NP, Kristi Kuhles ARNP, Kristy Calland DO, Lacey Hall, Larry Lindell MD, Larry Severidt MD, Lastascia Coleman CNM, Laura Fuller PhD, ABPP, Laura Moeller MD, Laura Murphy Dellos, Laura Neal MD, Laura Zeman, Lauren Burchette ARNP, Lauren Hines, Leah Appell, Lexis Wedell, Liliana Wiltse, Linda Bailey, Linda Myers RN MSN, Linda Peng, Lindsay Anne Mahaney, Lindsey Christianson DO, Lindsey Faber, Lindsey Jenkins MD, Lindsey Northness, Lindsey Rearigh, Lindy Elmquist, Lisa Banitt MD, Lisa Mellecker, Lisa Vigue MD, Logan Clausen, Logan Schroeder OMS IV, Lori Steinmann CNM, Lucas Beilby, Lucas Lavelle, Michael Sinklier DO, Michelle Howard, Michelle K, Michelle Simmons, Mikayla Brockmeyer MS, Miranda G Pressgrove, Miranda Takle, Mollie Quick BS, Molly Howard, Molly Olson DO, Morgan Schill MD, Morton Machir, Mounica Bevara, Myranda Brodsky, Nancy S. Cortes, Nancy Williams, Natalie Gustin, Natalie Lohmann, Natalie Nguyen, Nathan Soriano CRNA, Nicole Bro, Nicole Brokloff MD, Nicole Woodson-DeFauw MD, Nikhita Vemulapalli MS, Nikita Jayan MS, Noah Beem, Noah Wick, Olivia Jenks, Olivia Krohn, Paige Drumm, Paige Wood, Pallavi Mahesh, Parker Lefkow, Patricia Cameron, Patricia C Connell, Paula Stageman ARNP, Pooja Amin, Praneet Dara, Prapti Singh, Priynt Patel, Rachel G, Rachel Heinrich, Rachel Maassen MD, Rachel Mejia DO, Raina Gerritts, Ramya Vemulapalli MS, Readan Ballard, Rebecca Lundquist MD, Rebecca Shaw MD, Rebecca Wagschal DNP, CNM,WHNP-BC, FACNM, Reece Jackson, Regan Hunt, Regan Wolbers, Luke Raymond, Lydia B. Alexander MD, Lynne Himmelreich CNM-Ret,FACNM, M. Michele Martins MD, Mackenzie Carley, Mackenzie Conlon MS, Mackenzie Kunkel, Maddie Holden, Madeline Broghammer, Madeline Stesney, Madelynn Paulsen, Madigan Arend, Maggie Mangold MD, Maggie Meehan, Maida Jusufovic, Maiti Peters, Malia Lake, Mallory Hyatt, Mallory Martens, Margaret Foster, Margaret Fuller, Margaret Johnston RN, Maria Nelson, Maridith Morris CNM, Marika Raff, Mari Mineck BS, Marissa Huettman, MaryElizabeth Winters APRN-CNM, Marygrace Elson MD, Mary Kalinay, Mary-Kayt Jones, MaryTherese Gehrmann, Matthew O’Keefe, Maxwell Harlan, McKenzie Sundall Gaspar, Megan Davis Degeus, Megan Fischer, Megan L. Srinivas MD, Megan McDonald MD, Megan O’Connell, Megan Slattery, Meghan Connett, Melanie Giesler-Spellman DO,FACOOO-HNS, Melannie Herrera, Melissa Clark ARNP, Melissa Summerfield, Mendy Collum RN, Micayla, Michael Anderson, Michael Considine, Michael Rayal, Rhonda Dodge Syata, Rianna Reimers, Robert Aghasaryan MD, Robin Kopelman MD, Ryan Hurd, Ryan Tiger Lei, Rylie, Sabbath Schrader RN, Sadie Solomon, Sai Movva, Samantha Corman, Samantha Gantenbein, Samantha Powell OMS IV, Samantha R Swartz MD, Samantha Schmitz DO, Samuel J. Goszczynski, Sandra Ruhs MD, Sara Belles, Sarah Bradbury ARNP, CNM, Sarah Costello, Sarah Jones Ketter, Sarah Parrott DO, FAAFP, Sarah Renze MD, Sarah Van Hauen DO, Sara Kraus, Sara Olmstead, Sara Schaenzer MD, Sarina Martini MD, Sasha Dorestin, Seema Harichand-Herdt MD, Semira Ramic D.O., Shahrukh Khan, Shannon C Throndson MD, Shannon Leveridge MD, Shanzay Suhail, Shauna Basener, Shayla Rae ARNP, Sheila Frascht, Sithara Sunny, Skylar Nesse, Sophie Long, Spencer Dodgen, Spencer Ericksen, Spencer Pham, Stacey A. Pawlak PhD, Stacey Hurst ARNP, Stanley Grant, Starla Vasilakopoulos, Stephanie Gibbons, Stephanie Pothoven DO, Stephanie Radke MD, MPH, Stephen Graves, Stephen Mooradian MD, Su Ataman, Sukanya Makkapati DO, Sumedha Bandi, Sumeyo Noor, Summer Johnson DO, Susan Todd BSN, Suzanne Bartlett Hackenmiller, Sydney Gates, Sydney Rice DO, Talia Sopp MD, Tammy Wells MD, Tana Perry MD, Tara Andersen, Tasha Beenken DO, Taylor Lamb CNM, Taylor Wade, Thomas Martinez, Tiffani Milless MD, Tiffany Grell, Timothy A Voy RN, Tonya Kerker, Traci McAninch RN, Traci Wood, Tu H, Tyler P Crowe, Veronica Pronitcheva, Victoria Cunningham, Victor LeClair DO, Wanakee Carr MD, William Barry, William Howard DO, FAAP, Willis Barr, Will Zocher, Xavier Edgren, Zachary Zancanelli, Zehinabou Coulibaly,

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Opinion: We are health care providers. An abortion ban harms patients.