Letter to "New York Times" (7/19/08): "Redefining Abortion"

from Joan Malin, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood of New York City

Re "Abortion Proposal Sets Condition on Aid" (news article, July 15):

As a parting gift to the right-wing base, the Bush administration is days away from an attack on women's health care that would limit the rights of patients to recieve complete and accurate health information and services.

This wrong-headed proposal, which radically redefines abortion to include some of the most common and effective methods of birth control, may allow health care providers to refuse to provide women contraception.  If this regulation moves forward, it will sacrifice women's ability to manage their own health care on the altar of a political ideology.