U.S. District Court in Tallahassee ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood affiliates’ call for a preliminary injunction of key provisions of HB 1411
Contact: Damien Filer / [email protected]
For Immediate Release: June 30, 2016 (Updated: June 30, 2016, 5:28 p.m.)
Today the U.S. District Court in Tallahassee ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood affiliates’ call for a preliminary injunction of key provisions of HB 1411, the dangerous new state law that would have eliminated access to birth control, cancer screenings, STD tests and other care for thousands of patients at Planned Parenthood health centers in Florida.
Statement of Lillian A. Tamayo, President/CEO, Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida:
“As a result of today’s decision, thousands of people across Florida have the peace of mind that comes with knowing they can access essential reproductive health care, such as cancer screenings, birth control, and well-woman exams. This ruling also sends an unmistakable message to politicians to quit playing politics with women’s health.
“This law would have taken away access to basic health care from many at-risk Floridians who need it most. In their callous zeal to pass this legislation, politicians in Florida actually suggested that women could turn to elementary schools and podiatrists to seek the essential reproductive health care they would no longer be able to access at Planned Parenthood.
“Cutting off funding for birth control and cancer screenings to organizations that provide abortion services is just plain wrong. Contraception and education are proven ways to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion, yet this law would have cut off access to low income men, women, and teens seeking these services at providers like Planned Parenthood just because they offer safe and legal abortion care.
“Planned Parenthood will continue fighting for every one of our patients who depend on us for care.”
Statement of Barbara A. Zdravecky, President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida:
“Today’s ruling should be hailed by all Floridians, but especially the thousands of men and women across the state who would have been cut off from access to reproductive health care including cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and more had HB 1411 been allowed to stand.
“Floridians oppose cutting off funding for birth control and cancer screenings to organizations that provide abortion services, and local and national public health experts have spoken out time and again about the dangerous consequences of blocking care at Planned Parenthood.
“We continue to call this law what it is: a political attack aimed at Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health care providers. Women don’t turn to politicians for advice about mammograms, prenatal care, or cancer treatments. Politicians should not be involved in a woman’s personal medical decisions about her pregnancy.
“With today’s ruling Planned Parenthood is more committed than ever to both serving our patients and fighting back against politicians who are bent on attacking access to women’s health.”