From Dee DeFeranti Abrahamse
Dear Dorothy,
Today, Planned Parenthood and the American Medical Association filed a lawsuit against the Trump-Pence administration’s dangerous, immoral gag rule. We are suing this administration for its attempt to dismantle Title X, our nation’s program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care. This gag rule would ban providers like me from delivering comprehensive, medically accurate information to Title X patients. It is unethical and unconscionable, and it compromises the oath I took as a doctor to provide honest and accurate care to all people, all patients — always. Most importantly, it threatens the health of the more than four million people who receive care through this program. That’s why Planned Parenthood is fighting back.
Title X, lauded as one of America’s most successful public health programs, has reduced unintended pregnancies and STI rates nationwide. Since 1996, Congress has asserted that pregnant Title X patients must receive complete, unbiased, non-directive information about their options — including abortion. This went even further in 2010, when Congress mandated that the Department of Health and Human Services cannot impose rules to create unreasonable barriers to care. This gag rule illegally interferes with these mandates, medical practice standards, and providers’ ethical obligation to patients. It would prohibit counseling Title X patients on or referring them for abortion care, and would impose cost-prohibitive, medically unnecessary requirements to separate abortion care from all other services — from health records to entire facilities.
As a doctor, I know this would have widespread consequences on public health outcomes. And because the majority of Title X patients identify as people of color, it would worsen existing health disparities and racial inequities. It is yet another tactic by the Trump-Pence administration to ban abortion, limit access to sexual and reproductive health care, and block care at Planned Parenthood health centers.
The gag rule is set to take effect on May 3 — and we’re doing everything in our power to stop it. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court in Eugene, Oregon, was brought by the American Medical Association; the Oregon Medical Association; Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon; Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette; Thomas N. Ewing, MD; and Michele P. Megregian, CNM. Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the law firms of WilmerHale and Stoel Rives LLP will represent Planned Parenthood in the case. And we are not alone in this fight: Yesterday, 21 states and the District of Columbia also announced lawsuits to block the rule.
We will always be here for all patients — and are proud to serve all people. Thanks to your support, Planned Parenthood will continue fighting until reproductive health care, including abortion, is recognized as a fundamental human right.
We will keep you updated as the case moves forward. Thank you, as always, for standing with us.
With deepest gratitude,
Leana
Leana S. Wen, MD, MSc
President
Planned Parenthood
