Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced today she is lifting her ban on nonessential medical procedures, beginning May 29. That’s a week after the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation, in conjunction with the Miller Johnson law firm, filed a lawsuit on behalf of a patient who is unable to have surgery, as well as three medical practices that have been unable to provide necessary care. The governor’s policy reversal in the wake of the Center’s legal pressure is a positive step forward for Michiganders, but it does not diminish the undue hardships that many have continued to endure.

Below is a statement from Patrick Wright, director of the Mackinac Center Legal Foundation and vice president of legal affairs at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

While understandably trying to limit the impact of COVID-19 by flattening the curve, the governor limited health care access across the state. This led to many harmful results, both medically and economically. Now that the flattening has been successful, we are pleased that in response to our lawsuit, the governor has decided to lift those bans. We will be examining the impact that this decision will have on our suit.

To find out more information about the Mackinac Center’s lawsuit, visit www.mackinac.org/HealthcareEO.