Planned Parenthood Arizona Statement: Revised Abortion Regulations Require Physicians to Use Inferior, Out-of-Date Method of Care

PRESS STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHOENIX – Today, the Arizona Department of Health Services released revised abortion regulations related to House Bill 2036, a package of restrictions on safe and legal abortion since signed into law on April 12, 2012. HB 2036 included an unconstitutional ban on abortion at 20 weeks struck down by federal courts, and also directed the Arizona Department of Health Services to write new rules for abortion providers.  

Of greatest concern is a provision requiring physicians to reject current practice for medication abortion and instead follow an inferior, outdated, and less effective protocol that was used years ago when the FDA first approved one of the medications used in a medication abortion. 

FROM BRYAN HOWARD, PRESIDENT AND CEO, PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARIZONA

“For decades, Arizona was a state that protected a woman’s right to make personal decisions about her own health care.  But for the last three years, we have been a state where politicians institute laws at the insistence of extreme ideological lobbying groups who do not provide medical services, and the result has been disastrous for women’s health.  Recent laws have drastically reduced a woman’s ability to access safe and legal abortion in rural and medically underserved areas, while others have cost Arizonans hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to defend in court.  

“Now the Arizona Department of Arizona Health Services, under the direction of Governor Jan Brewer, is requiring physicians to use an inferior, out-of-date method of care for medication abortion instead of the guidelines supported by the most trusted professional and scientific organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  In addition to forcing doctors in Arizona to administer medication abortion in a way that goes against the research-driven guidelines by experts in women’s health, these regulations would deprive many women of the option of medication abortion by banning it after seven weeks of pregnancy.  The decision to end a pregnancy is personal and complex, but ultimately one that a woman must make, in consultation with her family, her faith and her health care provider. 

“As a leading provider of women’s health care that insists on the highest standards of patient care, Planned Parenthood is considering every option available to us to ensure Arizona women’s health is protected in light of these deeply troubling regulations.” 

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In the community for 80 years, Planned Parenthood Arizona is the leading sexual health organization in Arizona. The organization provides health care, education and outreach services to more than 90,000 men, women, teens and parents annually. Planned Parenthood Arizona operates health center locations statewide. For more information, please visit www.ppaz.org.