Planned Parenthood is a health center directed primarily at women and teens focusing on their reproductive health as both a health care provider and as an advocate. In recent months, there has been a Republican-driven movement to stop financially supporting Planned Parenthood. Those involved in this movement say that Planned Parenthood should be federally defunded. They submit that the government should not give money to help fund America's largest abortion provider because they are therefore supporting abortions. Some believe that Planned Parenthood is not in its clients’ best interest, raising concern about their safety. It is also thought that Planned Parenthood is not a significant healthcare provider and those who rely on it can seek medical attention elsewhere. However, these claims are untrue and the federal government should always continue to fund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood cannot, by law, use federal funding to support their abortion services, but they can provide clean, safe, and legal abortions through private funding. Also, Planned Parenthood is a safe outlet to help men and women who would not otherwise seek help, keeping them out of emergency rooms. Finally, Planned Parenthood is not only a significant healthcare provider, but for some, the only source they have. Not only does Planned Parenthood provide medical attention for its patients, but the organization also leads the reproductive health and rights movement, protecting the rights of Americans.
Arizona Senator, Republican Jon Kyl is among those who believe that Planned Parenthood should not receive federal funding because of their contribution to the abortion industry. He took the Senate floor and stated that 90% of what Planned Parenthood does is provide abortion services (Robertson). This claim is wildly untrue because in reality, only 3% of Planned Parenthood's total services are related to abortion assistance. Senator Kyl received criticism from people such as Jon Stewart from the Daily Show for this blatant lie that he said it wasn’t intended to be taken as a factual statement. In actuality, Planned Parenthood receives funding from the federal government from the Title X Family Planning Program and from Medicaid, both of which are prohibited from funding abortion activities. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, Title X is banned from providing money to support abortions (Robertson). Similarly with Medicaid funding, under the Hyde Amendment, can only be used to fund abortions in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is endangered. Any claim by the opposition that states that Planned Parenthood is using the federal government's money toward abortions is completely false and is already protected by law (Robertson). The defunding of Planned Parenthood over this fictitious allegation would be inappropriate.
Although the federal government currently does not financially support Planned Parenthood's abortion services, they are still provided and should continue to be available. They offer a clean, safe, and legal way for women to obtain abortions. Most Planned Parenthood clinics offer two types of abortion, in clinic abortions and the abortion pill. The in clinic abortion is a medical procedure; it can be either an aspiration procedure or a dilation and evacuation procedure. Similarly, the abortion pill is a medication that can be taken to end an early pregnancy in a safe and effective way. All of these methods are safe, legal and effective. Abortion is a service for which there will always be a market, regardless of whether it is legal or not, through dangerous and unsafe back-alley procedures. Planned Parenthood offers a dependable and healthy way to get an abortion for those who would procure one by any means possible, regardless of its legality and does so without federal funding but through private donations. Although federal funding is not used for abortion services, it is still essential to the other resources of Planned Parenthood.
Those who believe that Planned Parenthood does not have it's clients best interest at heart base their notions on the undercover operations of Live Action, a pro-life and anti-abortion group. Live Action members posed as child sex workers to deceive and discredit Planned Parenthood employees. Associates of Live Action, attempted to expose Planned Parenthood for condoning sex trafficking in the US and not reporting these instances. However, in January 2011, approximately 11 Planned Parenthood clinics around the US were approached by these people and were both reported by Planned Parenthood as being suspected sex traffickers as well as being possible frauds (Planned Parenthood). Employees quickly informed officials of this deceit and openly condemned sex trafficking. This ploy of those involved with Live Action was quickly foiled and those attempts to discredit Planned Parenthood in an attempt to stop their abortion services. In reality, women are in very safe hands at Planned Parenthood for they are safely receiving procedures, services, and information. Its employees are medical professionals, a majority of whom have devoted their careers and some their lives, to all that Planned Parenthood stands for (Planned Parenthood). These women, men, and teens would be at greater risk without the support Planned Parenthood offers. It is almost certain that teen pregnancy rates would rise, the abundance of sexually transmitted diseases would increase, and there would be more frequent unsafe abortion practices for contraceptives are among the most common resources used at Planned Parenthood. Without federal funding, the availability of these resources would decrease greatly inhibiting the safe sex practices of Americans.
According to Planned Parenthood, “For 95 years, millions of women and men have turned to [them] for vital sexual health care services, sex education, and sexuality information” (Planned Parenthood). This includes information and services that those individuals would not otherwise have been able to obtain. Of the three million patients, 75% are living 150% below the poverty line (Planned Parenthood). They can receive the medical attention and information they need at Planned Parenthood without breaking the bank of their already strict budget. These people are not in a position to use other, more conventional means of procuring sexual health services. Some cannot afford other sources of medical assistance and should not be further inhibited by taking away some of the Planned Parenthood's resources they rely on. These resources are a primary reason these people and families are able to live healthier then they would otherwise be able because of their extreme poverty. In the case of Susan Loyacono from Kansas City, Planned Parenthood saved her life when no one else would. She did not have health insurance and got increasingly ill until she began to hemorrhage. She called Planned Parenthood who was the only company willing to help her, they saved her life (Sherman). In this case, and in many others similar to it, Planned Parenthood demonstrates how they have become an asset to the American people, and can continue to do so with continued funding from the federal government. They are assisting the US medical system and deserve the government's full support.
Planned Parenthood is also responsible for much of the international sexual health services in developing countries. They “provide health care and education through local partners and advocate for sound U.S. foreign policies that affect sexual and reproductive health and rights globally,” (Planned Parenthood). They assisted 1,200,000 individuals in 10 developing countries with sexual health needs who otherwise would have remained untreated and uneducated (Planned Parenthood). For example, in northern Nigeria, Planned Parenthood has turned their attention to educating the citizens who live in a place with “strong cultural and religious taboos around sexuality, widespread poverty, and unreliable infrastructure,” (Planned Parenthood). Here they are also implementing four local organizations to provide sexual health assistance in a very lacking community (Planned Parenthood). Although the funding for the organization's international efforts is not from the United States federal government but from private donations and contributions from other nations, without federal funding to support Planned Parenthood's work in the states, the international assistance would not be possible. All of Planned Parenthood's funds would be limited to the minimum in the US alone.
Additionally, Planned Parenthood is a well known advocate, leading the reproductive health and rights movement in the United States and around the world. Beginning in the 1960s, an organized movement to legalize abortions and change public policies regarding women's health was rapidly growing (Norsigian). Women's health centers as well as publications began to emerge in the 1970s (Norsigian). Today, Planned Parenthood has assumed the role of sexual health advocate. They have been vocal on campuses, in statehouses, in the media, and predominantly online, “advocat[ing] for policies that enable Americans to access comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care, education, and information,” (Planned Parenthood). They have formed a political subdivision called “Planned Parenthood Action Fund” which is an independent, nonpartisan non-profit group, fighting a political battle. “The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including legislative advocacy, voter education, and grassroots organizing to promote the Planned Parenthood mission”(Planned Parenthood Action Center). Quickly after President Obama's election, Planned Parenthood launched a large campaign for health care reform including phone calls to Congress, e-mail contacts, letters to the editor, town hall meetings and petitions to Congress. Greatly due to the Planned Parenthood supporters and efforts, in March 2010, President Obama signed the most extensive healthcare reform and legislative advancement for women's health since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid (Planned Parenthood Action Center). Without the advocacy of Planned Parenthood this positive change in America may not have been possible. They bettered the lives of millions of Americans by using their resources on a national level, making political changes to protect and ensure their health. They have banned together millions of Americans to make dreams of a better healthcare system and the assurance women's health rights a reality.
The outrageously untrue claims made by those who believe Planned Parenthood should be defunded should be quickly disregarded. There is no foundation in these allegations. Planned Parenthood needs to continue to be funded by the United States federal government. Their abortion services are funded by entirely separate entities, unrelated to the federal funds from Title X and Medicaid. Therefore, the reasoning behind the assertion that Planned Parenthood’s abortion services warrant its defunding has no justification. With or without federal funding, Planned Parenthood provides safe and legal abortions to those women in needs but the federal funding is key to finance their other resources. They have created a safe environment for all people to seek out sexual health services that has assumed an essential role in the United States healthcare system. Furthermore, they provide healthcare to those in need, not just within the US, but also on a global scale. Without their devout efforts, millions of people would suffer from lack of easy to access and inexpensive medical services and education. Additionally, they have lead the fight for the sexual health and rights movement in the US, therefore making a difference not only on a micro level, but on a macro one. Planned Parenthood stands to “improve women’s health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices,” (Planned Parenthood). They successfully reach their goals and don't need the federal government to belittle the importance of their actions.
