It's extremely disappointing that we continue to allow the politicization of health care by the Trump-Pence administration. Last week, Planned Parenthood was forced from a federal funding program they had been part of for over 50 years. Five decades!
President Trump recently issued a “gag order” which prohibits health care providers from discussing the option of abortion with their patients. If caught doing so, they risk the chance of no longer receiving grant funding. Because of this, women who deserve the right to answers when consulting their health care provider are being forced to undergo a withholding of information.
Ultimately, this movement in the United States’ politics has resulted in the defunding of Planned Parenthood. It is no secret that when other states made the decision to defund their Planned Parenthoods, it led to tens of thousands of citizens not receiving the care they need, a spike in unplanned pregnancies, and a doubling in maternal mortality rates. It is clear the continuation of funding Planned Parenthoods everywhere is, and always will be, a benefit to everyone in our communities of this great country.
With that being said, I am a proud patient of Planned Parenthood in Moorhead. The Moorhead clinic doors opened to our community nearly 35 years ago and those doors strongly remain open to this day. We must join their fight to make sure everyone continues to get the care they not only need, but the health care they deserve.
