Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion in Medina v Planned Parenthood South Atlantic. Dr. Jamila Perritt, ob/gyn and abortion provider in Washington DC and President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health responds:
The answer is a resounding ‘NO’: the Court does not believe that everyone is worthy of equitable access to health care.
“The decision issued today, to put it simply, answered the question if the Court cares about people with low-incomes being able to access STI screening and treatment, birth control, and cancer screenings in their communities. The answer is a resounding ‘NO’: the Court does not believe that everyone is worthy of equitable access to health care. This case sets a dangerous precedent. It gives states the green light to continue their inappropriate politicization of health care, withholding care from those they deem less worthy, less deserving, and less trusted to practice bodily autonomy.
“Since its beginnings, Planned Parenthood clinics have been critical access points for people of all backgrounds for a variety of lifesaving health care services. People should be able to choose Planned Parenthood for their care if that is where they feel safest, most comfortable, and most able to access the health care they need.
“Judges and politicians have no place in limiting or determining what kind of health care people have access to or where they are able to access the care they need.”