Planned Parenthood is choosing to endanger patients by continuing to perform elective abortions and using resources critical to the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
The Pennsylvania Family Institute calls on our elected state officials to take action against Planned Parenthood’s decision to remain open for elective abortion services in PA at a time when our state and nation are facing shortages on critical health equipment while ordering people to stay home to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Mammogram centers are shutting down and important surgeries are being pushed back, yet Planned Parenthood’s putting profit before patients – and before the well-being of all citizens in Pennsylvania – by continuing to perform elective abortions at perhaps the peak of the coronavirus crisis,” says Michael Geer, President of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.
“Governor Wolf placed a ban on elective surgeries in Pennsylvania and urged all to stay home in efforts to slow the spread of this virus, including a stay-at-home order for seven counties. Planned Parenthood should be busy offering their personal protective equipment and ventilators to those treating COVID-19 patients, not busy scheduling elective abortions as usual,” adds Geer.
*Note – Planned Parenthood does not perform any mammograms and are not even licensed to perform any in Pennsylvania.
Other medical centers are heeding these directives. Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia is one example of health centers delaying or shutting down important services in order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. One patient, who already lost one kidney to cancer and now eager to remove tumors on the sole kidney he has left, had his April 1st scheduled surgery pushed back to April 29, as reported by the Associated Press.
Despite these statewide orders, Governor Wolf’s office has replied to this concern that they label abortion as a life-sustaining service and that they are permitted to remain open. Wolf is a former volunteer escort for Planned Parenthood who is trying to force taxpayers to fund their operations to the tune of $3 million in this year’s proposed budget.
“Planned Parenthood has a history of putting profits before patients,” comments Emily Kreps, Legal Assistant with the Pennsylvania Family Institute. “Over half of their abortion clinics failed a health inspection last year. Now, it’s clear they value their profits above all else since they are not even delaying their elective operations to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.”
“I guess that’s what we should expect from an organization that eliminates human life on a daily basis,” adds Kreps.
Planned Parenthood performs both chemical and surgical abortions at 11 abortion clinics throughout Pennsylvania. Every year, Planned Parenthood profits from performing 15,000 abortions in Pennsylvania, half of all abortions in the Commonwealth.
“Surgical abortion facilities will be using gowns, gloves, masks, suction tubing – all of which are crucial supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic,” states the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs. “[Planned Parenthood] should not be wasted on elective procedures like abortion.”
