MILWAUKEE–MAY 3 – The following is a statement from Tanya Atkinson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin regarding the May 4th hearing scheduled before the Dane County Circuit Court on litigation initiated by Attorney General Josh Kaul challenging the enforcement of Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban.
“In the 10 months since the Dobbs decision has resulted in the suspension of abortion services in Wisconsin, we are seeing the harm done to women who are blocked from accessing abortion care, forcing them to travel across state lines or remain pregnant against their will sometimes with pregnancies that are a threat to their health and wellbeing.
“Health care providers have been forced to practice substandard care under the threat of prosecution or deny health care resulting in adverse health outcomes. Analysis from the Association of American Medical Colleges confirms that states with abortion bans are now having a harder time recruiting and retaining health care professionals at a time when Wisconsin is already seeing provider shortages.
“Recent published studies and reports confirm what we long feared: states with abortion bans have fewer maternity care providers, deficiencies in miscarriage management, higher rates of maternal mortality, premature birth, infant death, and overall death rates for women of reproductive age. They are also more likely to have greater racial inequities across these outcomes, which disproportionately affects women of color.
“This is a perfect storm of devastation that threatens the long-term health and well-being of the people in Wisconsin unless we work to restore people’s freedom to access the health care they need.
“PPWI fully supports the current litigation, lead by the Attorney General and Governor’s office, as well as the motion to intervene filed by doctors. It is an important step in restoring access to abortion care in Wisconsin. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin’s doors are open and is working to provide patients with the sexual and reproductive health services and information they need to determine the course of their own life.”
For more information about abortion or for a state-by-state guide to get care, go to ppwi.org or AbortionFinder.org.
