Virginia City Council Passes Resolution to Target Abortion Provider

On Tuesday, the Manassas, Va., City Council passed a resolution that would create a committee to study what regulations and guidelines abortion clinics in the city operate under and to determine if stricter guidelines are needed.

The resolution’s author incorrectly claims there are no health and safety requirements for the city’s one abortion provider, NAF member Amethyst Health Center for Women. However, the Amethyst Health Center adheres to federal standards, professional conduct requirements of the state's Board of Medicine and the Department of Health Professionals, and NAF’s Clinical Policy Guidelines, which set the highest standards for quality abortion care.

This resolution is an example of a Targeted Regulation of Abortion Provider (TRAP) bill, which singles out abortion clinics for unnecessary, politically motivated, restrictive regulations.

"Regulations such as these are calculated to chip away at abortion access under the guise of legitimate regulation," said Jennifer Blasdell, NAF’s director of public policy in today’s Washington Post.

Massachusetts Senate Passes Expanded Buffer Zone Bill

The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill yesterday which would establish a 35-foot no-protest zone around reproductive health care clinics beginning where clinic property ends. Currently, the state has an 18-foot buffer zone, but anti-abortion protesters continue to harass and intimidate patients. In some cases, protesters have even dressed as police officers and deceived patients. NAF knows from experience that creating or expanding buffer zones around health care facilities can lead to a decrease in violence and harassment, thereby ensuring the safety of patients and staff.

"Women in the Commonwealth have the right to medical care free of violence, harassment, or intimidation," Governor Deval Patrick said in a statement. "The Senate's decision today to widen the buffer zone around reproductive clinics will protect patients from the abuse that so many have encountered as they seek care."

The legislation now heads to the Massachusetts House where it has the support of the Speaker and nearly half of the state representatives.

Protect Title X's Family Planning Programs!

Tell Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt that family planning must remain a priority!

President Bush has just appointed Dr. Susan Orr as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA) in the Department of Health and Human Services. DASPA oversees Title X, the nation's family planning program, which provides high-quality family planning and preventive health care services to over five million low-income individuals annually.

This appointment raises serious concerns, as Dr. Orr previously served as the Senior Director for Marriage and Family Care at the Family Research Council (FRC), an organization that has advocated for limited access to contraception. She currently serves on the board of directors for Teen Choice, a nonprofit organization which advocates for abstinence in lieu of contraception.

Dr. Orr has spoken out against contraceptive coverage requirements in federal employees' health insurance. She has said, "…fertility is not a disease. It's not a medical necessity that you have [contraception]."

Dr. Orr should not be entrusted with the oversight of the federal family planning program and the health of millions of Americans.

Take action and speak-out against this appointment by signing NAF’s petition.

Senate Defeats Attack on Family Planning Services

Last night, the U.S. Senate rejected an anti-choice amendment by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to the 2008 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043). The measure would have restricted federal funding for clinics providing vital health services if they also use their own, private funds to provide abortion care.

The Impact of Nicaragua's Abortion Ban

Nicaragua’s abortion ban has had a devastating impact on women’s lives and health. In November 2006, the Nicaraguan government eliminated the exception that permitted an abortion if three doctors certified that a woman's life or health was at risk.

A new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), “Over Their Dead Bodies,” documents how the ban on abortion has made women afraid to seek even legal health care services. Fearing prosecution under the new law, doctors are unwilling to provide necessary care.

In Nicaragua, both women who obtain abortion care and abortion providers can face four to eight years in prison.

According to HRW, Nicaragua is one of only three countries in the world to maintain a blanket ban on abortion, even in cases of rape, incest, or life or health-threatening pregnancies.

National Abortion Federation Denounces the Appointment of Dr. Orr to Oversee Federal Family Planning Funds

NAF issued this press release today:

The National Abortion Federation (NAF) denounces the appointment of Dr. Susan Orr as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA). DASPA oversees Title X, the nation's family planning program, which provides high-quality family planning and preventive health care services to over five million low-income individuals annually.

This appointment raises serious concerns, as Dr. Orr previously served as the Senior Director for Marriage and Family Care at the Family Research Council (FRC), an organization that has advocated for limited access to contraception. She currently serves on the board of directors for Teen Choice, a nonprofit organization, which advocates for abstinence in lieu of contraception.

During her time at FRC, Dr. Orr spoke out in support of President George W. Bush’s proposed elimination of the contraceptive coverage requirement from federal employees’ health insurance. In 2001 she said to The Washington Post, “We’re quite pleased because fertility is not a disease. It’s not a medical necessity that you have [contraception].”

This is not the first time that President Bush has made a controversial appointment to this critical public health post. Last year, Bush appointed anti-birth control advocate Dr. Eric Keroack, who had previously managed Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) in Massachusetts, to this position. CPCs are designed to discourage pregnant women from seeking abortion care, and in many instances they misinform and intimidate women to achieve their goal. Dr. Keroack resigned in March 2007 following public outrage.

"This is just another example of the Bush Administration promoting politics over a sound health policy. Dr. Orr should not be entrusted with the oversight of the federal family planning program and the health of millions of Americans," said Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of NAF. "For more than 35 years, the Title X program has been a hallmark of quality preventive care, enabling practitioners to provide family planning services to low-income individuals."

Abortion Rate Declines Worldwide, But Illegal and Unsafe Abortions Remain a Problem

A new report shows the abortion rate declined more in developed countries, where abortion is generally safe and legal, than in developing countries, where the procedure is largely illegal and unsafe, according to “Induced Abortion: Rates and Trends Worldwide,” a new report released by the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization (WHO) published in the October 13, 2007 issue of The Lancet.

The number of induced abortions worldwide has declined from nearly 46 million to under 42 million between 1995 and 2003. Abortion rates fell most significantly in Eastern Europe, a trend that corresponds with substantially increased contraceptive use in the region.

The study also found that an estimated 20 million unsafe abortions occurred in 2003, 97% of these in developing regions. The prevalence of unsafe abortion remains high, with up to 39 unsafe abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 in Eastern Africa and 33 per 1,000 in South America. By contrast, developed regions, where almost all countries allow abortions with few restrictions, had an average unsafe abortion rate of two per 1,000.

The report concluded that reducing the incidence of unsafe abortion would result in an immediate and substantial reduction of maternal mortality and improve maternal health.

Abortion Waiting Times Increase Across Canada

The Edmonton Sun published an article today detailing how women in Alberta are facing wait times of up to three weeks when seeking abortion care. This wait time can be attributed to the province’s growing population, a shortage of staff and facilities, and a lack of political will to make abortion more accessible.

Delaying abortion care can lead to increased risks and is often stressful for women, as one clinic administrator explains. “Once women have decided they want to terminate the pregnancy, they call the clinic and they want it tomorrow," said Celia Posyniak, executive director of the Kensington Clinic in Calgary. "It's always a shock for them to learn they have to wait."

Waiting times for abortion care continue to increase throughout Canada. Last week, an article in The Ottawa Citizen revealed that women in the province were being forced to wait up to six weeks in order to obtain abortion care.

Victory in Aurora!

After weeks of politicization, Planned Parenthood is finally able to open their new clinic in Aurora, IL. Yesterday, the Kane County state's attorney said there was no wrongdoing after reviewing the clinic's development and permit process. The investigation was prompted by the complaints of anti-choice protesters and some members of the City Council. This was the third review to find no problems with the permit process. The city of Aurora then granted Planned Parenthood an occupancy permit and the clinic has opened its doors, two weeks after its scheduled opening.

The 22,000-square-foot, $7.5 million building will serve the growing community outside of Chicago by providing much need reproductive health care services including sexually transmitted disease treatment, breast cancer screening, and abortion care.

"It's always a victory when we can expand access to reproductive health care services, including abortion services," said Steve Trombley, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area.

Catholic Bishops in Connecticut Reverse Position on Plan B

Roman Catholic bishops in Connecticut have reversed their position on Plan B by agreeing to let hospital personnel at the state’s four Catholic hospitals administer emergency contraception to rape victims. Today a new state law goes into effect, which requires medical personnel at state hospitals to provide survivors of rape with emergency contraception. The new law will increase women’s timely access to emergency contraception. Plan B can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex.

According to Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services Inc., 40 percent of survivors or rape were not offered or did not receive the full dose of emergency contraception at the hospitals where they were treated during the first half of 2006.