We are extremely proud to share a powerful example of the dedicated and courageous physician-advocates we have the honor to work with and support.
In today’s New York Times, our board chair-elect Dr. Willie Parker wrote a moving op-ed about why he felt compelled to return home to the American South to provide abortion care. In this piece, he talks about the stark realities his patients face, and how their need for safe, compassionate reproductive health care is both urgent and under attack:
I stopped doing obstetrics in 2009 to provide abortion full time for women who needed help. Invariably I field questions regarding my decision, with the most often asked being: Why? The short answer is: Because I can. And: Because if I don’t, who will?
The piece highlights how hard it is for women in this country, especially those of color and living in poverty, to obtain abortion care. Restrictive state-laws are being implemented at a rapid rate, creating unnecessary and harmful obstacles to care. Heroic and dedicated doctors like Dr. Parker are doing all they can, under circumstances not seen anywhere else in medicine, to respond to their patients’ needs.
If Dr. Parker’s op-ed today inspired you, we hope you will take the time to add your voice in support of access to safe and legal abortion care by participating in our “Why I Provide/Why I Support” video project. Read more about how you can submit a video here.
