Planned Parenthood Debate

Leaked videos from Planned Parenthood have caused frenzy among Americans and there have been debates on whether or not to continue funding this organization. These videos reveal Planned Parenthood officials discussing selling fetal tissue for profit. While they are proved to be edited videos, many people are still wary about the whole situation. Joining along with this frenzy is Ruth Marcus, whose article, Defunding Planned Parenthood would actually increase abortions, argues why Planned Parenthood should still be funded. Marcus provides substantial evidence including pathos and logos to support her claim; however, it is her ethos that is questionable. With numerous fallacies plaguing her argument, her ethos is damaged, thus affecting the argument’s

There are a lot of cultural beliefs and biases that impact the stance that people choose to take regarding defunding Planned Parenthood. The biggest, and most obvious, belief is religion – namely Christianity. As a Christian myself, I tend to feel perplexed when this issue is brought up, because I know what I believe and how I feel, but I feel as though it is not my place, or the government’s, to get involved in this decision. Most Christians believe that abortion is a huge sin, as you are taking the life of a human away. With that, most have the distorted belief that all Planned Parenthood does is abortions, when it is only three percent of what they do, and it is not funded in any way, shape, or form federally, per a law former President Obama put in place (Parenthood 2017).

Given the misinformation depicted in the media it is difficult to discern what Planned Parenthood does and exactly how it is that they allocate their funds. Though opponents of Planned Parenthood would have us believe abortions and contraception is what they do, health screenings and prevention is a more accurate description. More so given the array of services they offered and the fact that those they serve are mainly from the uninsured and underrepresented minority population. Though steeped in controversy, Planned Parenthood services are of great benefit to society, more so given their efforts in preventive care. Because

One of the main reasons for the support of defunding is the fact that the clinics perform abortions. Abortion is legal according to the Supreme Court as of 1973 and should not used a reason to support the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood was founded in New York City in 1916 as the first birth control center offered to women. The clinics did not start offering abortions until the 1970s when the Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that “the constitutional right to privacy also applies to a woman’s decision, in consultation with her doctor, to have an abortion” (Planned Parenthood). Also according to Planned parenthood, the court recognized in Roe v. Wade, not only a woman’s constitutional right to choose, but that the state may prohibit an abortion after a certain point in the pregnancy, except when the mother’s life is in danger. Many states do have laws in place that prohibit abortion after a certain number a weeks, which varies from state-to-state. Using abortion as an excuse for defunding of Planned Parenthood is irrelevant because it is legal according to the Supreme Court of the United

There is a common misconception that Planned Parenthood is a center for abortions, and that’s it. Only three percent of Planned Parenthood’s services relate to abortions. Planned Parenthood receives $500 million in federal funding and it is

Another consequence that will have to be dealt with in the event that a bill stripping Planned Parenthood of funding is passed, is the loss of a safe, non-judgmental place for men and women to receive sex-education, birth control, general health care, treatment for STDs, pap smears and breast exams, and refuge and support for those in abusive relationships. All of these services make up 97% percent of what Planned Parenthood does, leaving only three percent of what they do as being abortions. With the help of Planned Parenthood, the rate of teen pregnancy is declining and is a 20-year low, one million people outside the US receive health care they wouldn’t otherwise have access to, the rate of the diagnosis of and death from cervical cancer has

Little do most people know is that Planned Parenthood offers many other services such as contraception, STI testing, and cancer screenings. Recently, this organization was defunded by the government. I believe that the government should work with Planned Parenthood in making abortions legal for the first three-weeks after fertilization. This gives expecting mothers a chance for choice without affecting the ethicality of aborting a live fetus. Also, this would help to decrease the need for black market abortion specialists that are arising from the defunding. With abortion being legal for a set amount of time, these specialists won’t lose their jobs and would not have to go under the table to find work.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides healthcare and education to both men and women, having over 650 health centers that provide healthcare to countless communities around the world. Shockingly, 78% of those who use Planned Parenthoods services live at or below 150% of the federal poverty line, showing how important this organization is to low-income families (Topulos, Greene, Drazen). Their mission statement is “A Reason for Being”, which is shown through their efforts to provide health care, advocate public policies, create educational programs, and endorse research. There are those who do not believe Planned Parenthood should be funded by the government, though, due to the fact that they provide abortions to women in need. Studies show that the effects of not having Planned Parenthood available are disastrous, causing low-income families to lack a healthcare provider and the number of those who are infected with STD’s and STI’s to rise. The biggest concern communities have about the government defunding Planned Parenthood is the effects that it would have on low-income families who would no longer have access to something that many people take for granted: health care. Although many believe that Planned Parenthood mostly provides abortions, in reality, only 3% of the people that seek help from them receive an abortion, while 97% receive affordable and, in many cases,

Five years ago, we learned in Texas what can happen when efforts to defund Planned Parenthood are carried out. The network of health-care providers falls apart and women lose access to essential preventive services. Planned Parenthood is not something that, at first, was affecting Texas government. When Texas decided to focus on the fact that they preform abortions, basically, just ignoring the fact the government started by providing reproductive health care and still do. That’s when Planned Parenthood was forced to fight back, which started to affect Texas government because of their involvement. Years ago, Texas voluntarily gave up $30 million a year in federal funding for women’s health programs, just so it could exclude Planned Parenthood from the roster of approved

Many who are against PP want you to believe exactly that and nothing more. The reality of the matter though, is that 0% of money that is being funded by the government is legally allowed to go towards abortions. Every dollar that the government funds towards Planned Parenthood helps men and women pay for HIV/STI testing, different types of birth control, annual exams and screenings for life threatening

From the article, “9 Things People Get Wrong About Planned Parenthood” Dayna Evans states, “Roughly 75 percent of Planned Parenthood’s patients have income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, which is one enormous reason why it is essential the organization’s services not be curtailed.” If the organization were to be shut down, many people would have no other option for health care. From the article it is revealed in a study that in the 491 counties where there are currently Planned Parenthood clinics, 103 of them have no other clinics where low-income patients can gain access to affordable contraceptive services if the clinics were to be defunded and closed down. Many people rely very heavily on Planned Parenthood and it would be a detriment to their lives if it were to be

The eliminating of funds to clinics will cause many to go without preventative care such as contraception. If people no longer have access to birth control, the population rate will continue to rise. When the government takes away funding, and therefore, birth control, unplanned births will happen and with that additional fees that the government will have to cough up. Sure, you save money up front when defunding Planned Parenthood but in the long run you are causing a bigger problem. As Groff states, “Family planning is a regular part of women’s health, every $1 spent on family planning saves $4. It is fiscally responsible” (1). With unwanted pregnancies, come unwanted children or children for whom we are not prepared for which go into foster care as well as

Planned Parenthood has always been a controversial topic because of the many services they perform for their patients. The most controversial topic is abortion, but Planned Parenthood additionally provides substantial health care, birth control, STD prevention and treatment, etc. for patients who do not have access to or cannot afford actual health care. Due to the amount of people who receive treatment in Planned Parenthood, it should not be defunded so that the people who use it as their only option are not left without health care and the economy can benefit from the money they raise from Planned Parenthood’s services. Defunding Planned Parenthood can also lead to issues revolving around the rural areas where they are centered, as well as the economy as a whole.

Over the last one hundred years the program known as planned parenthood has selflessly devoting millions of dollars and countless hours. To providing health care that is not only safe but also affordable. (Lawrence and Ness) The comprehensive health care that planned parenthood provides is, in my opinion extremely beneficial to every single man and woman that has ever happened to be a patient of planned parenthood. Planned parenthood provides an extraordinary amount of benefits that have helped millions of people all around the world. Benefits such as free testing for sexually transmitted. Access to the full range of reproductive and preventive health services for woman and men both. Examinations, vaccinations, and abortion as well as many more. According to the author of Defunding Planned Parenthood Defined “Extreme politicians, led by Vice President Mike Pence and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, want to shut down Planned Parenthood”. If so many benefits are being provided by planned parenthood why is government funding for the program being taken away? Excluding their personal feelings towards abortion. I personally cannot think of any logical conclusion that would lead vice president Mike Pence and human services secretary Tom Price to think shutting down planned parenthood is a good idea by any stretch of the imagination. The services provided by planned parenthood are much too valuable to simply disappear for millions of people. If these services where to

Should the government, (us by way of tax dollars) continue to fund Planned Parenthood? It is my argument that Planned Parenthood it is an outdated and highly political organization that has outlived its efficacy; as such, funding should be radically cut or ceased entirely.