Abstract
For a century, Planned Parenthood has been working to improve reproductive health in America. With thousands of health centers spread all over the country, Planned Parenthood has wide reach that ensures Americans have access to reproductive health. Their efforts have ensured millions of Americans get sex education and get reproductive healthcare for poor Americans who cannot afford standard healthcare. Their role in American society cannot be limited to just the forefront for reproductive rights and availability and access to healthcare, as they are the agency that runs several programs to educate and facilitate communication. While the House Republicans claim that their main business is abortion, the reality it is only a small proportion of their overall operation. Without Planned Parenthood funding, millions of Americans cannot get reproductive health care and would certainly increase the number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. Simply put, without Planned Parenthood Americans would lose an affordable reproductive healthcare facility and their easy access.
Keywords: Planned Parenthood, sex education, etc.
Introduction
Planned Parenthood operates as a non-profit organization, which provides health services related to reproduction in the United States of America. Defunding Planned Parenthood is an ongoing political agenda on the Capitol Hill. It is obvious that defunding Planned Parenthood would be a major setback for women’s rights and their health issues. In the city of Los Angeles, more than 90 percent of patients visiting Planned Parenthood are reliant on federal funding for health care (Ross, 2015). In addition, Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of reproductive education in the country, only a small percentage of their services are abortions, and helps in reducing unplanned pregnancies and abortions (Flynn, 2015). In simple words, the federal government needs to fund a program that has made a huge impact on women’s health.
Background and History
Planned Parenthood was developed by the pioneering efforts of its founder, Margaret Sanger. It was Sanger’s vision that inspired the availability of healthcare for women in Nebraska and Iowa, and over the years across the nation. Since the mid-1930s, Planned Parenthood has served men and women of all ages. Presently, the agency provides all quality reproductive healthcare services to Nebraska and Iowa residents. The agency is supported by its volunteers, staffed by professional and dedicated employees, and funded partially by generous donations.
Planned Parenthood has continued their tradition of providing affordable, accessible reproductive healthcare and advocacy and education for reproductive rights (Planned Parenthood, 2017).
Supporting Arguments
Source of Sex Education
Planned Parenthood remains one of the largest providers of sex education in America. In addition, they are also an important source of reproductive healthcare for Americans. One out of five women in America have been a patient of Planned Parenthood in their lifetime. Patients get medically accurate reproductive healthcare and sex education through their programs for helping to improve communication between parents and teens. More than 700 educators are affiliated with Planned Parenthood. These educators travel all over the country to provide details about family planning and protected sex to Americans and patients attending their centers (Mattox, 2015).
Limited Abortions
While it is reported by the Republicans on the Capitol Hill and in the media that the main business of Planned Parenthood is abortions, the reality is far from it as abortions performed are rare. In 2013, only 3% of the services provided by Planned Parenthood were abortions. Affiliated clinics of Planned Parenthood provided 10.6 million medical services for around 2.7 million patients in 2013. More than 93 percent of the medical services provided by the agency are preventive such as life-saving screenings, STD testing and treatment, routine vasectomies, breast exams and birth control. In addition, they never turn away patients that arrive on their doorstep for lack of funds (Lee, 2015).
Reduces Unplanned Pregnancies and Abortions
Defunding the Planned Parenthood agency would cause more abortions and more unplanned pregnancies. In 2012, the agency provided contraceptives to 3.7 million women. For millions of women, Planned Parenthood remains the best option for avoiding pregnancy. Without Planned Parenthood, 3.7 million women would no longer have access to birth control and the chances of unplanned pregnancies and abortions would increase. Regardless of where people stand on the political issue, abortions are never really the first choice of women. It is important to differentiate between pro-choice and pro-abortion, as both options are completely unrelated (Yurcaba, 2015).
Rebuttal
Sales of Fetal Tissues
Texas Governor Greg Abbott started the quest for defunding Planned Parenthood in October 2016, as a response for undercover videos that were filmed by an activist for anti-abortion that showed employees of Planned Parenthood discussing sale of fetal tissue for the purpose of medical research. Texas Republicans claimed that the video was evidence of Planned Parenthood breaking the law. Stuart Bowen, Texas HHS (Health and Human Services) Inspector General, wrote a letter to Planned Parenthood stating, “Your actions violate generally accepted medical standards, as reflected in state and federal law, and are Medicaid program violations that justify termination.” (Becker, 2016)
Self-Sustainable
At the moment, Taxpayers are subsiding the political affiliates of Parent Parenthood.
It is a fact that Planned Parenthood can be self-sustaining with their $1.3 billion annual revenue, $1.4 billion worth in assets, and $127 million net income in 2013-14. The wages paid out by Planned Parenthood to their top level executives are highly lucrative, as President Cecile Richards made $2.47 million from 2009-2013. Planned Parenthood is also spending millions of real estate purchases, travel, and gala events. It is clear from the above numbers that Planned Parenthood can easily survive without federal funding and can be defunded (Staver, 2015).
Conclusion
References
Becker., O. (2015, 21 December). One step closer. Retrieved 4 January 2016 from, https://news.vice.com/story/texas-moves-closer-to-defunding-planned-parenthood
Flynn., A. (2015, 17 September). The Economic Case for Funding Planned Parenthood. Retrieved 4 January 2017 from, http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/planned-parenthood-economic-benefits/405922/
Lee., M.Y.H. (2015, 12 August). For Planned Parenthood abortion stats, ‘3 percent’ and ’94 percent’ are both misleading. Retrieved 4 January 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/08/12/for-planned-parenthood-abortion-stats-3-percent-and-94-percent-are-both-misleading/
Mattox., R. (2015). Five reasons to continue funding Planned Parenthood. Retrieved 5 January 2017 from, http://collegian.com/2015/08/five-reasons-to-continue-funding-planned-parenthood/
Planned Parenthood. (2017). HISTORY OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE HEARTLAND. Retrieved 4 January 2017 from, https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-heartland/who-we-are#sthash.kvbNiq6N.dpuf
Ross., S. (2015, 27 September), Physician, Planned Parenthood, Proud. Retrieved 4 January 2017 from, https://www.drsherry.com/blog/physician-planned-parenthood-proud/
Staver., M. (2015, 9 October). Taxpayers Made Planned Parenthood Rich (Liberty Counsel Action). Retrieved 4 January 2017 from, http://libertycounsel.com/taxpayers-made-planned-parenthood-rich-liberty-counsel-action/
Yurcaba., J.B. (2015, 3 August). 4 Vital Services Planned Parenthood Provides That Have Nothing To Do With Abortion. Retrieved 4 January 2017 from, https://www.bustle.com/articles/101611-4-vital-services-planned-parenthood-provides-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-abortion
