Planned Parenthood of Illinois statement on Title X gag rule.
For Immediate Release: June 20, 2019 (Updated: June 20, 2019, 11:34 p.m.)
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For immediate release: June 20, 2019 |
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS STATEMENT ON TITLE X GAG RULE
Planned Parenthood of Illinois Reacts to Title X Gag Ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
CHICAGO - Today, June 20, 2019, The Trump-Pence administration’s Title X gag rule takes effect in every state but Maryland, after a ruling by a panel of federal appeals court judges. The gag rule makes it illegal for health care providers in the Title X program to refer patients for abortion, and also blocks access to care at Planned Parenthood by imposing cost-prohibitive and unnecessary “physical separation” requirements.
Below is a statement attributed to Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
"Our doors remain open despite the Trump-Pence administration’s unethical efforts to limit patients access to reproductive health care. This gag rule blocks patients from accessing vital preventative care like birth control, cancer screenings and HIV testing. It forces doctors to withhold information about abortion care from their patients...even if that information could save their lives.
"Because the Title X gag rule violates medical ethics and puts patients’ health at risk, Planned Parenthood of Illinois will no longer participate in the Title X program. We remain committed to ensuring patients can continue to receive high-quality, comprehensive, and affordable care at our 17 health centers statewide.
"Long term, the gag rule will impact our ability to provide quality health care to all our patients. For now, Planned Parenthood of Illinois continues to offer financial assistance to qualified patients because of the generosity of our donors. At this time, we do not anticipate making service or staff cuts.”
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Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) provides affordably priced high-quality reproductive health care services to women, teens and men throughout Illinois. Through health care services, educational programs and advocacy efforts, PPIL works to ensure and protect the reproductive health and rights of each individual. For more information, visit www.ppil.org