SECTION: VIEWPOINTS, Pg. 3F

LENGTH: 353 words

HEADLINE: DON'T LIMIT ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE CARE

BODY:


In the Dec. 25 letter, "Require parental consent for abortion," Judith Gorman, director of pro-life activities for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, clearly outlined the agenda of her anti-family planning organization.

What Gorman failed to mention was that the abortion rate in this country is actually steadily declining. This decline is most closely linked with current programs that include confidential access to care; comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education; and Title X, the national family planning funding program. Communication and trust cannot be mandated from the state. We cannot ignore the fact that all family relationships are not open or stable. What happens when a teenager has a pregnancy due to incest? The proposed parental-consent legislation expects the teen to involve the parent, who has abused her, in this decision.

Survey after survey done at medical providers' sites have shown that confidentiality is the No. 1 barrier to getting adequate health care for teens.

I agree that it is very important that adolescents look to their parents for guidance. However, we must protect those teens whose family environment makes it uncomfortable for them to speak with their parents. If we do not protect their confidentiality, they will not get the care they need, and we will see unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates rise.

This legislation will affect the countless children who do not find themselves in families with an open communication structure. Those children are so easily forgotten when we try to restrict access to reproductive health care.

The National Organization for Women unconditionally supports the protection of safe and legal abortions, and reproductive freedom for all.
 
Make no mistake, pro-choice is not pro-abortion. We look forward to the day when each pregnancy is wanted. Until that day, every woman of child-bearing age must be guaranteed unfettered access to accurate sex education and to medical professionals who will respect her choice. ANDI L. RYDER
 
President, NOW

Buffalo Chapter

LOAD-DATE: January 23, 2001