Planned Parenthood tends to strike up quite a lot of controversy, for everyone has an opinion on the organization and its practices. However, with the recent hacking of the site, it's important to remember what the company's services are actually for: safe and affordable health care. The company’s motto is “Care. No matter what,” showing that no matter what, Planned Parenthood is a judgement-free place for important health care treatment. While many people want to defund the organization as part of a “pro-life” fight to end abortions, I have to say one thing: defunding Planned Parenthood is NOT the answer.
Planned Parenthood (PP) allows people to have easy and accessible healthcare and education about safe sex. PP is much more than an abortion clinic, it is a source for affordable birth control, STD testing, and education about STD’s. They teach people how to have safe sex, and more importantly, provide their customers with the means to have safe sex. When you buy birth control from PP, they do not just give you a bag of birth control pills and send you on your way. They give you a full exam to make sure you’re healthy and find the best type of birth control for you. They sit you down and explain to you what happens if you miss a pill or forget to take one at the right time. They specifically tell you what to do in order to be safe while having sex and using birth control. Every time you buy their affordable birth control pills, they also provide you with free condoms to have safe, smart sex. The price comparison between going to Planned Parenthood to buy pills compared to buying them uninsured from a pharmacy is incredible: for three months at Planned Parenthood, birth control costs only $60, compared to three months for $200 at a pharmacy. For many people who need birth control but cannot afford the astronomical pharmacy costs, Planned Parenthood is a saving grace.
Although PP is not solely concerned with abortions, many people do go there for the procedure. In fact, only 3% of all services provided by PP are abortions, which do not receive any government funding. The website clearly specifies that women should think about having an abortion thoroughly before undergoing the procedure, and that it is a very important choice that requires a lot of thought and attention. If Planned Parenthood was defunded, women would be forced to resort to dangerous and illegal means to have an abortion.
In 1973, abortion was made illegal in 30 states. Later that year, the decision was repealed in Roe vs. Wade, a famous court case allowing women to have an abortion as long as the point of fetal vitality was not crossed. Hundreds of women have died while trying to have an abortion in an area where it was illegal, and if PP is not available for women to use when needed, they will resort to dangerous, life-threatening “back alley abortions” and other means to terminate a pregnancy. By defunding PP, the “pro-life” advocates are not allowing women the right to make choices for their own body, and forcing them to have an unwanted pregnancy or risk their life trying to terminate the pregnancy themselves.
Beyond birth control and abortions, the company does much more. From STD and HIV testing to general (and gender specific) healthcare to LGBTQ services and even the morning after pill, PP is there to make sure that you are healthy and safe. Over 20,000 people use PP’s website as a resource everyday, from booking appointments to asking important healthcare questions. The website is a reliable resource to many. Unfortunately, on July 29 the website was hacked, leaving many without the resources they need. The website underwent a DDoS attack from an unnamed anti-abortion, pro-life group. The group was able to enter into the PP database and retrieve employee emails and contact information. "Anti-abortion extremists are willing to do anything to stop women from accessing the reproductive health care they are seeking," says Dawn Laguens, a Planned Parenthood official, in response to the attack. In case of a future attack, PP also has a help center hotline (1-800-230-PLAN) or you can Google the nearest PP center, and call their phone directly.
The most important thing about Planned Parenthood is that their purpose is to provide affordable, reliable healthcare to those who need it. They are available to help people who cannot afford any other healthcare. The company is not just an abortion clinic, but a way to help people make healthy, smart choices about their sex lives. Defunding Planned Parenthood would be a terrible choice because people NEED their services. The company exists to help the people, no matter what.
