PLANNED PARENTHOOD CEO ASHLEY COFFIELD RESPONDS TO SENATE BILL 1222

At Planned Parenthood, the health and safety of our patients is our number one priority. That’s why we have opposed Senate Bill 1222 that requires women seeking an abortion to make two visits to a physician, with at least 48 hours separating the visits. The bill also imposes a so-called “informed consent” script on physicians. This bill interferes with the doctor-patient relationship and adds pointless burdens to women that do nothing to improve their health and safety. It will delay an abortion until later in pregnancy, perhaps limiting a woman’s options. And it will mean unnecessary costs that will weigh more heavily on poor women. I’m sorry politicians in our state are burdening and shaming women who want to exercise their legal right to a safe abortion, rather than honestly helping improve women’s health.

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Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR), founded in 1938, is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. PPGMR’s mission is to ensure broad public access to reproductive and related health care through clinic services, education, advocacy and community partnerships in serving 42 counties in West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas.