Fight Trump’s “Gag Rule”
Dawn Laguens, Planned Parenthood
Federation of America
Donald Trump is preparing to push a "gag rule" —
his most dangerous attack on women's basic rights, ever.
It's a cruel policy designed to keep people from having access
to the best health care available, and will mean people won't get the
information, birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and
other care they need.
The administration's gag rule includes two unprecedented attacks
on patients and doctors:
First, doctors and nurses across the country are forbidden from
referring patients for abortion. Even if
someone asks for information, even if their health is at risk, even if a safe
and legal abortion is their best option.
Second, there's no guarantee that you're getting full and accurate
information about your health care. If someone
discovers they're pregnant after being diagnosed with cancer, for example,
their health care provider may not tell them that abortion is even an option.
This rule is designed to block access to preventive care at Planned Parenthood health centers, which serve more than 40% of the four million patients who rely on Title X (the nation's program for affordable birth control and reproductive health care).
We need to show just how many people oppose this dangerous
policy — and right now is our chance. The administration will be accepting
comments, and every single one of them matters.
No policy this extreme has ever been implemented in the United
States before — and the consequences could be devastating.
Since
Planned Parenthood health centers serve over 40% of Title X patients, many
patients — a significant number of whom are people of color — would be cut off
from care.
We can't let that happen.
We've seen this scheme before. Last year, Trump and
other lawmakers gave an ultimatum: stop providing abortions or we'll get Congress
to block access to care at Planned Parenthood health centers.
Our answer now is the same as it was then: NO WAY.
Abortion is a legal right and an essential health care service. One in four
women in this country will have had an abortion by the age of 45, and nobody
should be shamed or stigmatized by politicians (or anyone!) for getting the
care they need.
And let's be clear: Title X does not cover abortion services,
and the law already prohibits federal funds from covering abortion. Instead
what this rule will do is restrict people's ability to access basic preventive
care.
We're not backing down, but that means we need you with us.