David R. Daleiden at a hearing in 2016
*Image taken from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/us/planned-parenthood-video-charges.html
Planned Parenthood California
Planned Parenthood has health centers all across California. These locations consist of Alhambra, Antioch, Bakersfield, Baldwin Park, Burbank, Carson, Chico, Clearlake, Lakewood, Napa, Oakland, San Jose, and many more.
In 2018, NPR described a case in which the Supreme Court sided with anti-abortion pregnancy centers. NPR states, “The U.S. Supreme Court has reversed a lower court decision upholding a California law requiring anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers to more fully disclose what they are.” The law reversed allowed the pregnancy centers to not be required to share that they do not provide contraceptives or abortion. The centers come across as doctor’s offices, giving women the impression that they can be provided a full range of services. When in a time-sensitive situation such as seeking abortion during pregnancy, it is best to know up front if the pregnancy center you are going to will provide you this opportunity, as opposed to wasting time looking. “In recent years, the number of pregnancy centers that counsel against abortion has dramatically increased. There are about 2,700 of them across the country, more than three times the number of clinics that provide abortions.” The number of pregnancy centers that do not provide abortions are growing.
In 2014, Planned Parenthood released an article pointing out that an increase in contraceptives has resulted in a decrease of abortions. “‘This report shows that providing low or no-cost contraception and facilitating a positive dialogue about preventing unintended pregnancies yields positive results,’ said Rebecca Isaacs, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.” While teaching methods of contraception as opposed to/as well as abstinence can result in fewer unwanted pregnancies, the abortion rate in Los Angeles is still high. “Although the increased usage of contraception is good news, the number of unintended pregnancies in Los Angeles County remains high, especially among teens–14,733 teens faced pregnancy in 2007.” With further education on contraceptives, I believe the abortion rates will continue to drop into smaller, more reasonable numbers.
In May 2014, The US Department of Health and Human Service created a “refusal rule” stating that “health care workers, including doctors, nurses and general staff, can deny patients basic information and services without the patient’s knowledge.” Planned Parenthood Los Angeles states that it puts women’s health at risk, along with their rights. “Additionally, PPLA warned that making access to healthcare even more difficult in a delicate economy puts everyone at risk and undermines the very basis of the health care system.” Healthcare is already nearly impossible to afford without insurance, and this refusal rule will only make it more difficult to obtain.
Planned Parenthood found an increase in STDs in Los Angeles county and released a new program intending to “create access to regular STI screenings, treatment, and preventive education.” The rate of syphilis diagnoses has increased 96% since 2011 in Los Angeles county. Their program would provide screenings and medications for syphilis. The county does not have any STI clinics in the area, making Planned Parenthood’s program even more important. “Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection which can cause birth defects and lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or even neonatal death. As of September 2018, it is the Los Angeles Department of Public Health’s goal to eradicate congenital syphilis within five years.” Planned Parenthood is working to spread awareness of the dangerous disease, and provide methods of avoiding it.
In November of 2019, the New York Times described a situation in which an anti-abortion activist recorded videos of Planned Parenthood selling fetal tissue in San Francisco. Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit and won over two million dollars. “The activist, David R. Daleiden, recorded the videos in 2015 in an attempt to show that Planned Parenthood was illegally selling fetal tissue, a claim that created a political uproar and mobilized conservatives against the organization.” He pretended to be a biotechnology representative in order to film the recordings. Daleiden is the leader of the Center for Medical Progress, and broke many federal and state laws to get these videos. “The jury found that he had trespassed on private property and committed fraud, according to court papers.” Harmeet Dhillon, one of Daleiden’s lawyers, believes she has enough information to reverse the lawsuit because he was exercising the first amendment. The release of the videos encouraged the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood claims that the official in the video believed she was transferring the tissue to a medical company, and the fees discussed were perfectly legal. Planned Parenthood apologized for the confusion, since the video had come across as misleading.
While opinions may vary on when it is no longer appropriate to consider a termination of pregnancy, Planned Parenthood fights on the side of women and on the side of choice. Their 100+ health centers across California are working to support women’s rights.
By Elizabeth Sherlock
Planned Parenthood California 