ICYMI: Planned Parenthood Health Center Provider and an Abortion Patient Testify on Escalating Abortion Access Crisis in Senate Committee Hearing
For Immediate Release: June 4, 2024
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Dr. Allison Linton, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, and Madysyn Anderson, an abortion patient, testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee about the consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the federal constitutional right to abortion. Witnesses also included Dr. Nisha Verma, fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, and Destiny Lopez, acting co-CEO of the Guttmacher Institute, who detailed the ongoing chaos and confusion caused by abortion bans and restrictions.
Right now, some or all abortion is banned in 21 states.
Excerpts from Dr. Linton’s testimony:
“I have spent my life learning how to provide the highest standard of care possible to my patients. But because of decisions made by people in power, in rooms similar to this, in Washington and across the country, my colleagues and I can no longer provide the care we know our patients need….
“In my home state of Wisconsin, a statute from 1849 remained on our books that seemed to ban abortion from the moment of conception. A law written before the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, before women had the right to vote, before the discovery of penicillin….
“And it will only get more dangerous: The fear of not being able to care for patients is leading practitioners to move away from states with abortion bans and restrictions, or to stop treating pregnant patients. It’s made recruiting providers more difficult. I have had students request transfer to another state to finish their training….
“Abortion bans mean that there is no longer a standard of care for pregnant people — they’re getting care based on the state they live in. In the wealthiest country in the world, this is what we’re subjecting pregnant people to: chaos, confusion, and fear. My patients deserve so much better.”
Excerpts from Madysyn Anderson’s testimony:
“My dad took off work, and we drove a total of 720 miles roundtrip, and spent 13 hours on the road. We spent five hours in a hotel trying to sleep, before going to my first appointment — just to turn right around and head back home.
“Here’s the thing: Because of medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion care in Mississippi, I would have to make the trip all over again. The state essentially put patients in a time-out because they don’t trust people to know what is best for our own health and lives.
“I am one of thousands of people who have now gone through this. Every day we go without a federal right to abortion, there will be more of us. More savings accounts drained, more classes and shifts missed, more choices about which bill to skip paying.
“When we talk about abortion, it’s easy to get stuck talking in theoreticals. But I am a real person. The lives of abortion patients are not theoretical. People will continue to get pregnant when they are not ready or don’t want to be. We will always need abortions. There is simply no place for politicians to decide for us.”
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With nearly 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.