An Update from our Mover and Shaker, Jessica Lappin: Anti-Choice Centers Masquerade as Health Centers
Jessica as a Mover and Shaker: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2009/03/movers-and-shakers-jessica-lappin-new.html
She was one of our first!
Jessica tells us:
Two dozen anti-choice centers masquerading as health clinics are misleading and manipulating women to prevent them from exercising their right to choose. Most are not licensed medical facilities. Many do not have any medical staff on site. And this is happening right here in New York City.
Some of these centers locate themselves near Planned Parenthood clinics or hospitals. Their goal is to confuse people and lure them away from legitimate medical facilities.
I introduced a bill last week to regulate these centers. My legislation would require these centers to:
1) Post signs disclosing if there is no medical staff on site;
2) Disclose in their offices, on their websites, and in advertising that they don’t offer abortions or FDA approved birth control - or make referrals to places that do; and
3) Require that any information provided by women at these centers be treated as confidential.
This last point is very important: Women give staff at these centers personal information that is not protected by regulation. The centers could thus post private information on the web or use it in other inappropriate ways.
The decision to have a child or terminate a pregnancy is a deeply personal one. Women should be able to access medically accurate and comprehensive information about their full range of options.
Want to add your voice to those who would assure women get the facts when they need them? Here are some ways you can help:
1) Register your support by e-mailing my office. That way I can keep you up to date as my bill moves through the legislative process.
2) Let me know if you’d like to testify at the hearing the Council will hold.
You can see some of the media coverage of my bill and learn more about the issue in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, 1010 WINS-AM, WNYC, and WABC-TV.
Sincerely,
Jessica Lappin
Some of these centers locate themselves near Planned Parenthood clinics or hospitals. Their goal is to confuse people and lure them away from legitimate medical facilities.
I introduced a bill last week to regulate these centers. My legislation would require these centers to:
1) Post signs disclosing if there is no medical staff on site;
2) Disclose in their offices, on their websites, and in advertising that they don’t offer abortions or FDA approved birth control - or make referrals to places that do; and
3) Require that any information provided by women at these centers be treated as confidential.
This last point is very important: Women give staff at these centers personal information that is not protected by regulation. The centers could thus post private information on the web or use it in other inappropriate ways.
The decision to have a child or terminate a pregnancy is a deeply personal one. Women should be able to access medically accurate and comprehensive information about their full range of options.
Want to add your voice to those who would assure women get the facts when they need them? Here are some ways you can help:
1) Register your support by e-mailing my office. That way I can keep you up to date as my bill moves through the legislative process.
2) Let me know if you’d like to testify at the hearing the Council will hold.
You can see some of the media coverage of my bill and learn more about the issue in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, 1010 WINS-AM, WNYC, and WABC-TV.
Sincerely,
Jessica Lappin
