Readers React: Defunding Planned Parenthood is an attack on women’s health

To the editor: I read with dismay of the push in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood by blocking federal grant money. As the article said, “Federal law already bans Planned Parenthood from using any taxpayer money for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or protecting the mother’s life.” (“Pelosi set to retake the wheel,” Sept. 22)

Planned Parenthood receives money as reimbursement for providing contraception, pap smears, breast cancer screening and a number of other very important services to low-income women.

Thus, if Congress defunds Planned Parenthood, it will be changing exactly nothing regarding abortion services, but it will be denying poor woman a medical resource that they rely on.

Lack of contraception equals more unwanted pregnancies, which equals more abortions. I guess it is too much to ask that our elected representatives make intelligent decisions on our behalf.

Susan Skinner, MD, Newport Beach

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To the editor: What is wrong is to see all these politicians trying to outdo each other in their condemnation of Planned Parenthood, with none of them having enough sense and enough guts to recognize the immense amount of good service that this organization provides to women — particularly poor ones.

And yes, that includes abortion — safe abortion — which is legal in the United States.

Jean Lecuyer, Los Angeles

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