TEXAS — In a significant ruling Tuesday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals held in Deanda v. Becerra that Deanda has a state law right to consent to his daughters’ health care which is consistent with the Title X statute. This ruling disregards decades of precedent holding that Title X requires confidential access to contraception and that state laws to the contrary are preempted. However, the court held that because the issue had not been properly raised, the Biden administration’s 2021 Rule requiring confidential access to contraception for minors remains in place.
Title X is the cornerstone federal program dedicated to providing affordable sexual and reproductive health services to millions of people with low incomes. However, today's decision threatens to dismantle decades of progress by eroding the confidentiality and accessibility factors crucial to Title X’s mission, jeopardizing confidential access to essential health care for young Texans.
Statement from Wendy Davis, Senior Advisor at Planned Parenthood Texas Votes:
"Access to reproductive health care, including contraception, is essential for young people to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. Tuesday’s ruling jeopardizes the health and future of young Texans, reflecting yet another effort by Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and other state politicians to score cheap political points at our expense. As a result of their collective efforts, teen pregnancy rates are going up for the first time in 15 years. Limiting access to birth control puts the health and well-being of Texas youth at risk, especially those from marginalized communities who already face insurmountable obstacles in accessing care and may not be able to obtain parental consent.”
Our courts continue to disregard decades of precedent, and our politicians continue to ignore evidence-based policies and solutions that allow people to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. We must reject this judicial and legislative overreach and prioritize policies that ensure every Texan has access to the care they need and deserve.”
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Planned Parenthood Texas Votes (PPTV) is the nonpartisan policy, advocacy and political arm for Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas.
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