Planned Parenthood Playing Games Once Again
 

As usual, Planned Parenthood isn’t interested in discussing the merits of reasonable, common sense legislation to regulate abortion.  No, Planned Parenthood continues its pattern of making false accusations against any reasonable legislation to protect and provide for individuals facing an abortion decision. Below are some of the claims that Planned Parenthood is making against the Abortion Consent Act (Click here for a summary), as well as the truth that responds to their outrageous claims. 

1. PP says: “Bill will undermine the ability of women to access health care [... and] has a number of draconian components that are designed to interfere with a woman's right to obtain abortion services.”

The Truth: Providing women with information about the risks and alternatives to abortion, an opportunity to receive counseling, and time to reflect over the information and their decision empowers women to make informed choices about abortion. Courts repeatedly have held that state laws similar to this one do not unduly burden a woman’s right to obtain an abortion. Approximately 30 states have similar laws.

2. PP says: “Bill includes mandated bias counseling and a government imposed waiting period."
 
The Truth: The bill simply requires health care professionals to inform women about the risks and alternatives. Nowhere does the bill “dictate” or “script” the type of information a doctor has to provide. The doctor determines the counseling provided to the woman. Informing women of the medical facts regarding the procedure simply helps them make informed decisions. Waiting periods set forth in law are not unusual. When a woman has a baby that she chooses to place for adoption, she cannot terminate her parental rights for 72 hours. These waiting periods protect women from being pressured by individuals who may not have the woman’s best interests in mind.
 
3. PP claims:   their opponents, such as CAP: "introduce meaningless bills that will do nothing but make it more difficult for women to access health care, make it more expensive, violate their privacy and risk the quality of care we all receive."

Truth: Informing women of the details of the abortion procedure improves the quality of care. The bill’s provision requiring that women have the opportunity for one-on-one counseling in a private room before the abortion protects their privacy. Women have died and been injured in abortion clinics.  A recent Tucson undercover video taken at a Planned Parenthood clinic showed the abortion clinic personnel far more interested in pushing the abortion procedure and not very focused on the quality of care the young woman would receive.

PP: the Abortion Consent Act: "hurts families."

Truth: The bill’s requirement for a notarized parental signature before a minor obtains an abortion allows parents to be involved in helping their daughter make a decision about major surgery. Giving a 16-year old an abortion on the basis of a fraudulent email purporting to be from her parent  - as Planned Parenthood did in Chandler - is what hurts families. Covering up rape - as Planned Parenthood continues to do around the country - is what hurts families.     

PP says: the Abortion Consent Act, "promotes religion over science."

Truth: Nowhere does the bill promote religion or religious beliefs.  The bill simply provides each woman with information to make an informed choice about whether or not to have an abortion. Giving accurate medical information to a patient before a surgery is science – not religion.  The bill’s provisions protecting the rights of healthcare workers’ religious beliefs when those workers choose not to participate in abortion is granting constitutional protections guaranteed by our founding fathers – it’s not promoting religion over science.

PP:  labels CAP as “anti-birth control advocates like The Center for Arizona Policy….”

Truth:  CAP does not take a position on birth control.  But we certainly support the rights of those who take a position on birth control based on their moral and religious beliefs.  We respect those beliefs and believe those individuals should be granted their constitutional protections to practice their religious beliefs without having to give up their careers in the medical field.