Media Center: Press Release

S. 403 Ignores Young Women's Health Needs; Turns Caring Relatives Into Criminals

New York, NY—Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH) expresses grave concern over yesterday’s passage of S. 403, the misleadingly titled Child Custody Protection Act.  CCPA would prevent responsible adults—including grandparents, siblings, aunts, and clergy members—from helping a young woman get an abortion in another state unless she meets the parental involvement laws in her home state.

“Congress is putting young women’s health at risk and making criminals out of caring relatives,” said Dr. Wendy Chavkin, chair of PRCH’s Board of Directors. “As doctors, we always encourage our patients to involve their parents in medical decisions, and the vast majority of teens do tell a parent or a trusted adult. The sad truth is that some teens risk abuse or abandonment if they are forced to tell their parents they are pregnant. When these teens involve another trusted adult, they are doing just what they should. CCPA makes it impossible for other caring relatives to help a teen caught in a dangerous situation.”

“This bill ignores the reality of most teens’ lives. With no abortion provider in 87% of counties in the United States, many teens must travel to another state to receive an abortion. The medical evidence is clear: forcing teens to talk to their parents does not decrease teen pregnancy.  Education and access to contraception do. Rather than pandering to conservative voters, Congress should focus on providing better healthcare and sexuality education to prevent teen pregnancy in the first place.”

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