The Importance Of Planned Parenthood: Cancer Screening

The “Planned Parenthood Federation of America” is a non profit organization, funded by the Federal Government, in which it provides reproductive/maternal health services among the United States as well as internationally, since 1952. In recent news developments, there have been rumors that Planned Parenthood practices “inhumane” procedures when aborting an unborn baby to harvest their organs and that a law should be passed to stop this. The supporters for Planned Parenthood claim that these claims are unfounded and believe that Planned Parenthood is a wonderful association that helps women and men all around the world. This issue has caused a series of debates that have been going on for years, but Planned Parenthood still lives on.

Planned Parenthood is a controversial topic sweeping the nation of America with political and moral issues. Every day one could come across a new article on it, stubble upon a news article in their local paper or even on their local news station. Planned Parenthood directly provides reproductive health services, is involved in teach young students about sexual education, contributes to research in reproductive technology, and interacts with legal and political efforts aimed at protecting and developing reproductive rights.

Planned Parenthood’s mission is for every individual to have access and manage their own reproductive system regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, income, marital status, sexual orientation, and/or residence. They value and respect the diversity within their organization and care for the well-being of their patients. They want people to have self-determination for their own reproductiveness and have confidentiality for each patient that walks through their door. Also, they believe that keeping within those areas of self-determination it will better the quality of life and help build strong relationships. “To provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of each individual. To advocate public policies which guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services. To provide educational programs which enhance understanding of individual and societal

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,

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

“Nothing matters.” That quote attributed to Ambrose Bierce may be true in some cases. It may be true to those who do not value the funding of Planned Parenthood. But something does matter. And that is the funding of the healthcare resource Planned Parenthood. Many do not understand the vital role Planned Parenthood plays in the lives of up and coming parents. Planned Parenthood has been operating and serving those in need of care in the United States and overseas for more than 40 years (“Planned Parenthood Global”). Planned Parenthood has vowed in their mission statement:

Planned parenthood has been a topic of controversy the last couple of years, as people throughout the nation ask whether or not the healthcare organization should be defunded. When video footage was released in 2015 of “Planned Parenthood medical officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue to researchers,” it seemed likely that federal funds would be revoked as backlash from the public was noted (Welch). Although the nonprofit organization does offer the termination of unplanned pregnancies, the organization offers many more services to women and men, such as free birth control and yearly health checkups “backed by medical experts and more than 100 years of research in reproductive health” (Planned Parenthood). As many people struggle financially to provide for their families, Planned Parenthood’s services are a relief to those who otherwise would not be able to afford healthcare, which is why the organization should not be defunded.

Since many believe that Planned Parenthood only performs abortions, a frenzy against it has been created. “We don’t want to commit taxpayer funding for abortions, and Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider” (Strickland quoting Paul Ryan, 2017). Republicans rather see federal funding go towards federal community centers. However, to clarify this misconception we need to look at what federal funding is going towards. Planned Parenthood receives its funding from Medicaid reimbursements (Berg, 2017). They do not keep any hidden money, or have money put aside to preform free abortions. As the federal money that comes in goes straight towards helping patients.

"Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare, providing birth control, pap smears, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and pregnancy tests to 5 million people each year. It has an annual budget of $800 million, 860 clinics, at least one representative in each state and enough members and staff that its reach into the grassroots is unmatched by any other entity fighting for reproductive freedom and women's equality" (Conniff, 2012).

Birth control, condoms, examinations, intrauterine devices, safe sex advice, discussions about identity, the list seems to go on forever. Everything stated and more is what all sexually active or simply curious individuals should know about and have access to no matter their monetary situations. Planned Parenthood is one place where people have access to all of these. Opposed to popular belief, Planned Parenthood is more than just an abortion clinic. In fact, abortions were not preformed until its legalization in the United States in 1973 (Our Bodies Ourselves). The debate over Planned Parenthood needs to come to an end, and funding must continue in order to ensure the safety of those who choose to be sexually active.

Onto scarcity. Planned parenthood helps young women, young adults and basically just women all together. To have a program specifically for women is, I think, the scarcity and why so much money has gone towards that specific

In 1916, Margaret Sanger founded the first birth control clinic, laying the foundation for Planned Parenthood to come into existence. Twenty years later, in a U.S v. One Package ruling, The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals states that in order to promote well-being and save lives, physicians may prescribe contraceptives. Throughout the state of Iowa, education efforts prominently began with contraceptive lectures in 1938. The health center in Des Moines starts offering abortion services after Roe v. Wade ruled that women have right to an abortion. Around 1988, Iowa mandates sex education in public schools, with Planned Parenthood having an influential say in the matter (Our History). Throughout its history, Planned Parenthood has helped and saved countless lives and may continue to do so if it receives the funding it needs to operate. The government should use taxpayer money to fund Planned Parenthood.

The article “Editorial Defunding Planned Parenthood hurts the healthcare system,” states that Republicans, who dominate control in Congress, prioritize to defund Planned Parenthood. This proposal has been proposed previously, but it has not been able to surpass Obama’s veto. Since this is no longer the case, Republicans are now taking action to remove all federal funding such as Medicaid reimbursements. The proposed removal of funds is due to the fact that Planned Parenthood is associated with abortions, which are not highly supported but also ostracized by Republicans. However, Planned Parenthood provides many other reproductive services: “breast examinations, cervical cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted

Planned Parenthood is necessary. Fifty-four percent of the clinic health centers are located in areas that lack health professionals and are medically underserved (New York Times). This implies how the medical center is crucial in providing primary health care to others whom otherwise would have nowhere else for support. Planned Parenthood plays an important role in advancing scientific knowledge of useful stem cells

This greatly affects the citizens in Summit and Cuyahoga counties because it prevents some women from being screened for cervical cancer. Care centers like Planned Parenthood (that receive funding) are then forced to decide how much of funding is spent on specific patients. If there were more funding for cervical cancer screens, they could be provided at little or no cost to all patients. The truth is Planned Parenthood and care centers like them are a necessary provider. Just last year over 635,000 PAP and breast exams were performed by Planned Parenthood, from those tests, 72,000 early diagnoses of cancer or abnormalities were found (Planned Parenthood [PP], 2016). Planned Parenthood serves more than women, over 3,400 men had vasectomy procedure performed at Planned Parenthood last year (PP, 2016). Funding for care providers like Planned Parenthood comes from federal, and state levels. Last year Planned Parenthood received 553 million from government grants and reimbursements (PP, 2016). This sector of funding made up 48% of Planned Parenthood’s revenue. In the event funding were to drop or increase, it would immediately impact the ability to provide services for some of the