Media Contact
Pete Thomson
Chief Communications Officer
American Medical Student Association
Email:pr@amsa.org
Phone: 703-665-4786
蜜芽appopposes proposed 鈥済ag rule鈥� restricting access to abortion services
Sterling, Va., June 5, 2018鈥�The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) firmly opposes the new 鈥�鈥� put forth by the Trump administration that would restrict health centers funded by Title X in their ability to refer patients to abortion providers.
蜜芽apphas long asserted that women, regardless of age, social status, or marital status, have should all have the right to obtain a legal, safe, voluntary abortion鹿; and we oppose any restrictions on the availability of funds for family planning clinics that offer or provide counseling or referral for abortion services虏. These proposals by the Trump administration, to pull Title X funding from healthcare centres that provide and counsel for abortion, could have disastrous consequences for many women and families. Reproductive health clinics like Planned Parenthood would lose funding, thus severely limiting access for both men and women to not just abortions but also testing for STIs (sexually transmitted infections), mammogram screenings, contraceptives, medications, and more. Six in ten women who receive services at a publicly funded family-planning center consider it their primary source of medical care鲁; and if Planned Parenthood were defunded, other community health centers would not be able to fill this gap in care鈦�.
Furthermore, the persons affected worst by this would be those of low socioeconomic status, since 64% of the Title X-funded women have family incomes under the Federal Poverty Line鈦�. Without access, women would not have the ability to make their own decision and would thus be forced to possibly make life-changing sacrifices regarding their health, finances, career, and life. Such women without access to safe abortion services may be forced to choose dangerous methods that would put their lives at risk. Such women without access to STI testing or contraceptives would not be able to protect their or others鈥� sexual health, and they would not be able to make full choices around family planning. 蜜芽appstrongly condemns any policy that worsens health disparities鈦�, endangers the population to STI epidemics鈦�, and reduces availability of women鈥檚 health resources and procedures鈦�.
This proposed action by the Trump administration is the latest in a long line of attacks on access to abortion/healthcare services and on reproductive freedoms. While the rule has not been put into place yet, comments are being accepted . Period for comments closes on July 31, 2018. 蜜芽appwill be adding its voice to other professional groups opposing this rule, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse-Midwives, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
###
蜜芽app the American Medical Student Association:
蜜芽appis the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, 蜜芽appis a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing physicians-in-training, advocating for quality and affordable healthcare for all, and building the next generation of physician leaders. To join our community, visit .
鹿蜜芽appPreamble, Purposes, and Principles (PPP), Principles Regarding Reproductive Rights, Family Planning and Sex Education, pg. 49; 4(a), 2017
虏蜜芽appPPP, Principles Regarding Reproductive Rights, Family Planning and Sex Education, pg. 49; 4(b), 2017
鲁Rachel Benson Gold et al., Next Steps for America鈥檚 Family Planning Program: Leveraging the Potential of Medicaid and Title X in an Evolving Health Care System, at 4 (2009)
鈦碒asstedt, K. 鈥淔ederally Qualified Health Centers: Vital Sources of Care, No Substitute for the Family Planning Safety Net.鈥� Guttmacher Policy Review, Vol 20, 2017.
鈦礣itle X Family Planning Annual Report 2016 Summary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
鈦睹垩縜ppPPP, Principles Regarding Health Disparities, pg. 146
鈦访垩縜ppPPP, Principles Regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) And HIV-Related Illnesses, pg. 105
鈦该垩縜ppPPP, Principles Regarding Reproductive Rights, Family Planning and Sex Education, pg. 49; 3(c), 4(c). pg. 52; 7(b).
Contributors: Perry Tsai, MD/PhD, 蜜芽appNational President;聽Pranali Haribhakti, AMSA’s National Gender & Sexuality Women鈥檚 Advocacy Coordinator
