Physicians' Voices: Physician Profiles and Stories

As of August 1, 2012, federal rules are now in effect that require private insurance plans to cover the full cost of preventive health services for women, without co-pays or any other extra charges. These services include all FDA-approved contraceptives. The following stories from PRCH physicians demonstrate the importance of insurance coverage for birth control in their patients' lives.

"The times in which we live call for a thoughtful, compassionate, evidence-based approach to women's health care that should empower health care providers to include abortion in their practice—second-trimester abortions included—because of the women who, in the absence of these services, would die unnecessarily."

Some religious institutions are objecting to new federal rules requiring their employees' health insurance policies to cover contraception. PRCH physicians remember patients whose stories show the importance of affordable birth control for all women, no matter where they work.

Physicians recall patients who couldn’t receive the reproductive health services they needed because they didn’t have health insurance.

“Whenever I hear a conversation about contraception or abortion, I work my way into it to be sure that the truth is heard.” Dr. Christopher Estes has taken on myths like “IUDs and abortions make you sterile, birth control pills cause cancer, and women who have abortions are stupid, irresponsible, selfish, or all three.”

“The adolescent outpatient clinic is tucked in between acute and well child care sections of the pediatric outpatient center. When I took the job, pediatric services had completely taken over unused clinical space dedicated to adolescents. Parents with infants and children occupied the adolescent waiting area and were frequently roomed beside adolescents. It was a challenge reclaiming and marking the territory for adolescents.”

“It didn’t seem right that patients would come to me with a pregnancy, and if they wanted to carry to term, I would take care of them, but if they didn’t want to, I’d send them somewhere else. That sends a not-so-subtle message to women.”

“The fact is that most people—including parents, teachers, adolescents, and healthcare providers—are uncomfortable talking about sexuality, especially regarding teens. But it is essential for people taking care of adolescents to be able to talk about sex and reproductive health with them.”

“Roe v. Wade liberated us all—women seeking control of their own bodies, illegal abortionists seeking to help them, and antiabortion forces seeking to abridge their rights.”

“Two years after Roe v. Wade, by the time I was a resident, there were no women in ward K who were the victims of unsafe, infected abortion.”

“I think there are many women’s health providers who feel strongly about reproductive rights, but few of us who know how to argue effectively for change.”