Planned Parenthood Criticizes La. Bill That Would Restrict Telemedicine, Medication Abortion
April 22, 2013 —A Louisiana bill (SB 90) that would restrict medication abortion access is unnecessary and inaccurately implies that the method is unsafe, according to Planned Parenthood officials, Healthcare IT News reports.
The bill would ban the use of telemedicine during the provision of medication abortions and require that a physician be physically present when a woman takes the drugs (McCann, Healthcare IT News, 4/18).
Last week, the Associated Press inaccurately reported that Planned Parenthood does not oppose the bill.
In fact, the organization is fighting the legislation. The group has asked the AP to publish a correction, Planned Parenthood officials told the Women's Health Policy Report (Planned Parenthood statement, 4/19).
"This bill imposes medically unnecessary requirements on abortion providers with the intent of eliminating access to abortion for women in Louisiana and falsely claims that non-surgical abortion is unsafe," Melissa Flournoy, Louisiana state director of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, said.
The bill passed a Senate committee and awaits consideration by the full chamber (Healthcare IT News, 4/18).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Search the Archives
Subscribe
The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
