At Planned Parenthood of New York City, These Doors Stay Open

A federal court has just ruled that the dangerous, unethical gag rule can go into effect. At Planned Parenthood, we will continue to fight this dangerous rule in the courts and alongside champions in Congress. This assault on birth control and reproductive health care comes at a time when our rights and freedoms hang in the balance.

An unprecedented number of extreme abortion bans are being enacted across the country, many of which don’t include exceptions for rape or incest, could jail doctors (in one case for up to 99 years) simply for providing care, and could allow the state to investigate patients’ miscarriages. The Title X gag rule shows that anti-reproductive health care politicians are not just coming for abortion access, but all reproductive health care.

This gag rule does three things: First, it imposes new rules that are designed to make it impossible for patients to get birth control or preventive care from reproductive health care providers like Planned Parenthood.

Second, under this rule, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and community health centers across the country can no longer refer their patients for safe, legal abortion.

Third, it removes the guarantee that you’re getting full and accurate information about your health care from your doctor. For nearly two decades, Title X law has been clear: Health care providers cannot withhold information from you about your pregnancy options. This rule means they can.

We believe that this decision is wrong and will be seeking emergency relief to try to get it overturned. We refuse to withhold information from our patients and believe they should be able to make their own decisions about what is best for their lives, health, and families.

It is even more important for Congress to step up and protect Title X. The House has done their part — now the Senate must act and pass a spending bill that includes the Title X Protection, which would prevent the Trump-Pence administration from implementing this dangerous, illegal rule.

We want to be clear: PPNYC's doors will remain open and we will do whatever it takes to continue to provide high-quality sexual and reproductive health care to anyone who walks through them.

Know this — Planned Parenthood of New York City will always be here for our patients and we will continue to fight for everyone’s ability to get affordable, quality health care. We are working closely with state and city elected officials to ensure that New Yorkers will always have access to this care.

Here are three ways you can fight back:

• Donate to us as we fight to ensure that health care remains accessible

• Call your Senators to urge them to protect access to birth control and reproductive health care! Call your Senators today.

• Continue coming to PPNYC as a patient! You can make your appointment today at www.ppnyc.org