Gag Rule

Kacanek, D., Dennis, A., Miller, K., & Blanchard, K.. (2010). Medicaid Funding for Abortion: Providers' Experiences with Cases Involving Rape, Incest and Life Endangerment. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 42(2), 79–86. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20752621 Copy

We live in a democracy. Every four years the people of America have the opportunity of voting for someone who best represents their political views and who they feel is best fit to run our country. Whoever is elected into office, has the power of implementing policies and regulations to help run the country smoother. Under the Obama administration, birth control is covered by all insurance companies with exceptions. However, under Trump 's administration they are making plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act that has the potential of not allowing full or partial coverage of birth control. This an issue that has plagued the woman’s community whose intentions of contractive use is not solely based off of the reason, to try and

The Mexico City Policy had exceptions for those who had abortions done in response to rape, incest, or life-threatening conditions. When active, this policy could erase any progress made by the women that lack access to today 's modern contraceptives. “The global gag rule forces organizations to prioritize which communities they want to serve: women seeking abortions or all other women, children and families” (Jones, 2004). This policy was then revoked by President Obama in 2009. Currently, supporters are making sure that in the future presidents, like Trump, can’t rescind the policy without Congress.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides healthcare and education to both men and women, having over 650 health centers that provide healthcare to countless communities around the world. Shockingly, 78% of those who use Planned Parenthoods services live at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, showing how important this organization is to low-income families (Topulos, Greene, Drazen). Their mission statement is “A Reason for Being”, which is shown through their efforts to provide health care, advocate public policies, create educational programs, and endorse research. There are those who do not believe Planned Parenthood should be funded by the government, though, due to the fact that they provide abortions to women in need. Studies show that the effects of not having Planned Parenthood available are disastrous, causing low-income families to lack a healthcare provider and the number of those who are infected with STD’s and STI’s to rise. The biggest concern communities have about the government defunding Planned Parenthood is the effects that it would have on low-income families who would no longer have access to something that many people take for granted: health care. Although many believe that Planned Parenthood mostly provides abortions, in reality, only 3% of the people that seek help from them receive an abortion, while 97% receive affordable and, in many cases,

Rape related pregnancies requires further studying as it is a significant issue and requires more attention. To date there is a lack of empirical research showing how many women choose to terminate rape related pregnancies but studies remain showing that on average 1% of women who terminate their pregnancy is due to rape (SOURCE 4, 6, 8). Though research on terminating rape-related pregnancies is understudied, there is a vast amount proposing that women who seek to terminate their pregnancy as a result of rape do so later than those who were not raped (1, 2, 4) As discussed earlier, rape is an underreported crime. With an average of 1 in 3 women seeking post assault medical care, abortion may be the first time women with rape-related pregnancies access care after an assault (source

Abortions only make up three percent of the procedures done at Planned Parenthood clinics (“2014 2015 Annual Report”). There are a variety of other life saving and essential health care procedures done at the clinics, such as STD and STI testing, pregnancy tests, contraception, exams, and other health issues relating to both men and women. Many people believe that the federal government should defund planned parenthood; however, this would make it almost impossible for many low-income individuals to receive the care that they need. The federal government should not defund Planned Parenthood (PP) because abortion is not a valid reason for opposing funding because it is allowed by law, low-income individuals and families need the affordable

There are many people who believe pregnancies are a miracle and a blessing, but too often women become victims of sexual assault, which at times result in unwanted pregnancies (Stewart 1). Despite the fact many women choose to go through with their pregnancies, other women turn to abortions as a solution to leave the traumatic experience in the past. However, not all women who choose to terminate their pregnancies are victims of sexual assault, as many young couples become pregnant and choose this path because they feel they are too young

Over a hundred years later, Planned Parenthood still operates under the goal of providing comprehensive reproductive health care services to women. This provision of a full range of reproductive services has been deemed in a study by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and National Partnership for Women and Families to be “essential not only to their health and well-being but also to their ability to pursue an education, hold jobs, support their families, achieve economic security, and function as a free and equal member of society” (Lawrence). The study goes on to say that “without access to the full range of reproductive health services, all that is in jeopardy.” (Lawrence). Planned Parenthood will no longer be able to fulfill its mission of providing a full range of reproductive services if the current federal government achieves their goal of overturning Roe v. Wade. Lawrence, the author of the study, also describes a need for “health care decisions based on patient’s health and needs rather than insurance coverage or payment capabilities.” An interesting point is presented here in that if Planned Parenthood concedes its abortion services, there is no guarantee that whatever organization fills in that gap will do so honestly. There is no other organization so committed to the concept of family planning and reproductive services that they do not run the risk of providing inadequate

Since the 1960s, the fight to receive accessible and affordable abortions has been a largely controversial issue in the United States. The case Roe v. Wade was the climax of that fight, for “the Court held that... only a pregnant woman and her doctor have the legal right to make the decision about an abortion” (“History of Abortion”). Although Roe v. Wade ultimately made abortions legal in the States, there are still setbacks for affordable and accessible abortions today, and many of these conflicts may be directly traced to state-by-state determination of abortion laws.

With only “three percent” of Planned Parenthood’s services being abortions, the majority of the services belong to ‘STI/STD Testing and Treatment’ with its “percent at forty-two” and “‘Contraception’ at 34%” (Lee). Over 50 million women and men in America were in need of places like Planned Parenthood for health services, many of which were without insurance at their time of need. Denying access to Planned Parenthood would cause an increase in STI/STD outbreaks, like in Indiana’s case when the Governor closed down its rural Planned Parenthood clinics and had an HIV outbreak, and the percentage of abortion, be it legal or illegal, would increase significantly. “Now, the state is scrambling to erect pop-up clinics to combat an unprecedented HIV

One of the many women’s services that Planned Parenthood implements into their organization is safe, medically supervised, legal abortions. Most of the individuals who are not in favor of funding Planned Parenthood are solely against it because of the abortion services that this organization provides. Without safe and legal abortions, the increase of unsafe abortions would increase and some people may take drastic measures (Baptiste). In developing countries and counties where abortion is not legal there are many safe abortions performed that could be avoided if proper care was allowed (Baptiste). In this article Baptiste says, ”In El Salvador, a 1998 law went into effect that made abortion illegal with no exceptions—including rape, life of the mother, or incest. Women who are found guilty of having an abortion face two to eight year in prison.” This could promote unhealthy solutions to terminate an unwanted

Recently in Colorado, a religious man in a Planned Parenthood unit in Colorado Springs shot four people. Religious protesters often surround the Planned Parenthood’s unit in Stapleton, where the abortion procedures take place. It is clear that religion plays a big role in women’s health issue. However, if abortion is a very sensitive matter because it would be a murder for some individuals, using birth control is as despicable as using condoms – which no one considers to demand a prescription for. For those who seriously believe that life starts right at the fecundation moment, birth control should not pose an issue. And if there’s a study that proved that abortions among teenagers dropped so considerably, turning the birth control more accessible should be something desirable, at least to avoid a “greater

Even though the American Medical Association’s medically accepted standard of care includes administering emergency contraception, only some hospitals unconditionally provide emergency contraception to rape victims.

“Excessive restrictions stigmatize women seeking abortions and discriminate against those who lack the knowledge and understanding of legal grounds for abortion and vulnerable groups, such as poor and rural women and girls” (Finer). Abortion is commonly known as a murderous crime in which a mother chooses to terminate her child, but I do not view abortion that way. Abortion is when a mother determines that she is not capable to raise a child at the moment. I believe that tougher abortion laws should not be passed because it should be a women’s basic right to her own body, also, many women do not have the financial resources it takes to raise a child, and either way women will still seek illegal ways to get an abortion with risky outcomes

Women’s reproductive rights are a global issue in today’s world. Women have to fight to have the right to regulate their own bodies and reproductive choices, although in some countries their voices are ignored. Abortion, sterilization, contraceptives, and family planning services all encompass this global issue of women’s reproductive rights.