In last night’s election, abortion care was threatened on the ballot in three states. Alabama and West Virginia passed two ballot measures that restrict abortion care, and Oregon rejected their ballot measure that would have restricted insurance coverage of abortion care.
In response, Dr. Willie Parker, Board Chair of Physicians for Reproductive Health, issued the following statement:
“In my home state of Alabama, a law passed that is so vague and dangerous that it strips away the rights of pregnant people and could ban any abortion in the state. Also in West Virginia, a ban on abortion funding passed, where the impact will be felt most on women with low incomes, who will continue to face significant barriers to abortion access. I am heartbroken for my patients and the people of Alabama and West Virginia.
“I am heartbroken for my patients and the people of Alabama and West Virginia.”
“However, I am heartened to see the voters of Oregon recognize their ballot measure for what it was: a cruel way to politicize abortion care.
“As an ob/gyn and provider of abortion care, I know that every single one of us must be able to decide whether and when to become a parent—where we live, how much money we have or where we get our insurance should not dictate our dignity. Because we all love someone who has had or will need abortion care, I know that no matter our personal feelings about abortion care, we can all agree that no one, especially politicians, should interfere in health care decisions.
“We need legislators across the country to understand that abortion is health care, health care is a right, and a right is not a right if every patient can’t afford to access it.”
