Abortions are now being put on hold due to the coronavirus out break in Texas and Ohio. Both states are claiming that these procedures are not considered as “essential health care”. According to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton abortions in the state are currently banned unless the life of the mother is threatened. This tool place on Monday March 23rd, 2020.
“No one is exempt from the governor’s executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers,” a statement from Paxton’s office read. “Those who violate the governor’s order will be met with the full force of the law.”
This followed Ohio State’s attorney General Dave Yost’s decision that was announced on Friday March 20th, 2020.
Other states like Washington and Massachusettsare saying that abortion is not part of the non essential medical procedures.
“People should not push ideological agendas that interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. Period,” Kellie Copeland, executive director of the advocacy organization NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, told The Washington Post on Saturday. “But especially not right now, not during a pandemic.”
Last week the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology preempted Republican and anti-abortion governors and
“To the extent that hospital systems or ambulatory surgical facilities are categorizing procedures that can be delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, abortion should not be categorized as such a procedure,” the statement read.
“Abortion is an essential component of comprehensive health care. It is also a time-sensitive service for which a delay of several weeks, or in some cases days, may increase the risks or potentially make it completely inaccessible,” the groups continued. “The consequences of being unable to obtain an abortion profoundly impact a person’s life, health, and well-being.”
Iris E. Harvey and Kersha Deibel, who lead Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region, respectively, said the latter group’s attorney has assured the attorney general it is “complying” with the order halting nonessential surgeries.
“Under that order, Planned Parenthood can still continue providing essential procedures, including surgical abortion,” wrote Harvey and Deibel, emphasizing their “doors remain open for this care” and that they are working to “conserve needed resources.”
Share your thoughts, are abortions essential procedures during this time?
