Lesson of the Tebow Family Story: Respect and Trust Women to Make Important Medical Decisions for Themselves and Their Families

For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014

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(Hawthorne, NY) – Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) respects the ability of every woman, including Pam Tebow, Tim Tebow’s mom, to make important personal medical decisions for herself and her family.

The anticipated Super Bowl ad, purchased by Focus on the Family, reportedly features the Tebow family sharing their personal story about a difficult medical decision made by Pam Tebow. However, if Focus on the Family has its way millions of women would no longer be able to make personal medical decisions when it comes to abortion.

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic President/CEO Reina Schiffrin issued the following statement today:

"Planned Parenthood respects the ability of every woman to make important personal medical decisions for herself and her family, including the decision by Pam Tebow more than 20 years ago to carry her high-risk pregnancy to term and deliver her son Tim. The Tebows’ story is compelling, and central to it is the fact that we must respect the ability of every woman to make important medical decisions for herself and her family, after receiving counsel from medical professionals, religious leaders, family members, or others she trusts.

"The Tebow story underlines what Planned Parenthood has learned from the millions of women doctors and nurses at its health centers have cared for over nearly a century. Women take decisions about their health very seriously. This is true whether it's a decision about their choice of contraception, specific medical treatments for illnesses like cancer, challenges related to medically complex pregnancies, or any other important health care issue they are considering.

"Focus on the Family's long-stated goal is to outlaw abortion except in rare cases when the woman's life is severely at risk. This is an extreme position, which would rob every woman of the ability to make important personal medical decisions for herself and her family. Focus on the Family also opposes commonsense comprehensive sex education and life-saving stem cell research. Their agenda is far outside mainstream America.

"Planned Parenthood urges all Americans to ponder the true meaning of the Tebow family experience---one in which a woman made a deeply personal medical decision in private without government interference. This is exactly what every woman should be able to do.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is sharing this online video featuring U.S. Olympian Al Joyner and former Vikings football player Sean James sharing their own thoughts about sports, families, and the importance of personal decision making.

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Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc (PPHP) is the 16th largest affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and operates 12 medical centers in Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. In 2009, PPHP provided services to over 33,000 patients in nearly 70,000 visits. We conducted nearly 1,600 education programs reaching nearly 32,000 youth and adults, and mobilized approximately 10,000 advocates to protect reproductive health care rights. PPHP has served the community for 77 years, and is dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to make responsible choices regarding their sexuality and sexual health. Planned Parenthood has done more to reduce the incidence of abortion and unintended pregnancy than any other health care provider or advocacy group. PPHP is headquartered in Hawthorne NY. For more information about PPHP services and programs, visit pphp.org.