For Immediate Release
April 18, 2007

Contact:
Ann McCall
(202) 466-3825 (office)
(703) 400-5362 (mobile)
communications@arhp.org 

PRESS STATEMENT

Dr. Beth Jordan, Medical Director
Wayne C. Shields, President and CEO
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP)

Reproductive Health Professionals Express Outrage
Over Supreme Court Decision

Health and Safety of Women will be Compromised

Washington, DC — Beth Jordan, MD, medical director of the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) and Wayne Shields, ARHP president and CEO, released the following statement in response to the US Supreme Court decision in Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood.

“ARHP members, board, and staff are deeply concerned about the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a dangerously misguided ban on abortions while also eliminating any health exception protections for vulnerable women. This action hinders evidence-based clinical practice, and disregards the health and safety of US women. This is a dangerous precedent for all Americans who believe that the government must not interfere with private medical decisions. Today’s ruling tells women that politicians, not health care providers, will make medical decisions for them.

The health exception has been the cornerstone of abortion law in the United States since 1973. By ignoring 30 years of established law, this new Supreme Court puts women’s lives in jeopardy and disregards best practices for health care providers.

The Supreme Court has set a disturbing precedent, which paves the way for more bans and legislation that will continue to chip away at access to safe abortion and further marginalize women’s health. Through this ruling, the Supreme Court has lowered the standard of care for women.”

###

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) is the leading source for trusted medical education and information on reproductive and sexual health. ARHP educates health care providers, informs consumers, and helps shape public policy. ARHP is a non-profit membership association composed of highly qualified and committed experts in reproductive health. ARHP members are health professionals in clinical practice, education, research, and advocacy and they include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse midwives, researchers, educators, pharmacists, and other professionals in reproductive health. To learn more, visit: www.arhp.org.