NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Fights to Protect Women’s Access to Contraception
Columbus, OH – Once again, politics are getting in the way of women's access to comprehensive health care at both the federal and state level. Putting far-right demands above women’s health, the Bush Administration has blocked over-the-counter access to Plan B® emergency contraceptive, or the “morning after” pill. NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, the state’s leading advocate for personal privacy and a woman’s right to choose, has condemned the Bush administration for pandering to anti-choice groups at the expense of preventing unwanted pregnancy and decreasing the number of abortions. Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio said, “Over-the-counter access to emergency contraception could dramatically lower the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in this country, and would be particularly beneficial for victims of sexual assault. But those concerns were outweighed by the objections of a small number of ideological extremists who oppose even contraception. “ Earlier in the week in Columbus, testimony was given to the Ohio House of Representatives Health Committee on the Pharmacist Refusal Clause, which would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for a wide range of medications, including birth control pills and emergency contraception. The Pharmacist Refusal Clause would restrict Ohio women’s access to basic reproductive health care by allowing ideology—instead of medicine—to inform health care decisions. Copeland continued, “The language in this bill is so broad that pharmacists and physicians could choose to ignore science and use their own personal beliefs to deny any woman, including a rape survivor, access to birth control pills and emergency contraception. Both the Bush Administration and the Ohio legislature should focus on enacting legislation that protects women’s health by ensuring that medicine—not politics, religion, or ideology—informs health care decisions. “
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