Showing posts with label the times union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the times union. Show all posts

Friday, June 7, 2019

Letter to the Editor: Alabama Callous to Women's Health Care

Originally published in the Albany Times Union on June 4, 2019


The majority of Americans are outraged at the hatred sweeping across Republican-controlled states. Alabama is the most recent extreme example of denying women health care. The callousness of the legislators is stunning. Women's lives will be in jeopardy, but they don't care.

If these legislators truly cared about saving lives, they should be working to fix a worsening health care problem in their state, not dismantling what little access to health care Alabamians have left. Watching the 25 white, male state senators who voted, it is clear they just want to control women and not allow them to have control over their own bodies and lives. Their hypocrisy is incredible since there are no laws restricting men's access to any form of health care. Medical decisions for a patient should be made by the patient and her doctor, not politicians.

This is a concerted effort to ban abortions. It is an attack on all women and everyone who loves them. Nearly a dozen states have passed restrictions or bans on abortion so far this year. With President Donald Trump in the White House and Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, state politicians are emboldened to try to fully ban safe, legal abortion. It is a scary time to be a woman.

People across the country want more health care, not less. They want representatives who will fight the unethical Title X gag rule and increase support for crucial public health programs like sexually transmitted infections testing/treatment, cancer screenings and other essential care furnished by quality providers such as Planned Parenthood.

Cathie Love

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Letter to the Editor: Planned Parenthood Funding is Needed

Sunday, January 22, 2017

In hundreds of health centers, Planned Parenthood has supported and treated a large number of people who would not have access to health care. This will not happen if Planned Parenthood is defunded.

The care that is given helps millions of low-income women and men, many of whom are young people who are able to access quality preventive and basic health care like cancer screening, birth control, STD testing and treatment, including HIV testing.

Defunding Planned Parenthood will also negatively affect those patients who rely on Planned Parenthood health centers for safe and legal abortion.
The loss of Planned Parenthood health centers will cause a major health disaster for this country. This will primarily impact the underserved, including people of color, people who live in rural areas and people with low incomes. These people are the majority of Planned Parenthood's patients, and they are already facing unfair barriers to accessible health care. Where will they go then for care?

I have been a patient of Planned Parenthood in the past when I was unable to get care through other sources. The care was great, and I was treated well and with respect. With their help and caring, I am doing well today and a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood for 30-plus years.

Joan Csaposs

Albany

Reprinted with the author's permission