In a letter printed in the July 13, 2004 Chicago Sun-Times, Steve Trombley of Chicago area Planned Parenthood claimed that their mission is “providing women with access to comprehensive health care and helping them make lifelong responsible choices.”  Of course, it is necessary to understand the true meaning of the terms used by Planned Parenthood. 

“Comprehensive health care” means access to contraception and abortion.  Unfortunately, Planned Parenthood’s “comprehensive health care” is not nearly comprehensive enough to address the negative health consequences of contraception such as high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attacks, migraine headaches, and infertility.  And they are certainly not able to provide health care to deal with the consequences of abortion that may include: a perforated uterus, complications in future pregnancies, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even death.

“Lifelong responsible choices” means choosing abortion because in Planned Parenthood's view the world is already overpopulated so having babies is irresponsible.  Not having babies is better anyway because babies are inconvenient and expensive.    Remember, the purpose behind Planned Parenthood’s “planning” is actually population control.  Ask the women in China if access to contraception and abortion “kept government out of their bedrooms.”  No, it brought Chinese women forced IUDs and forced abortions provided by their government.

Even though Planned Parenthood insists such “comprehensive health care” decisions should be between a woman and her doctor, they are pushing to take the doctor out of the picture by seeking over-the-counter sales of the morning-after pill.  They also offer RU-486 to perform chemical abortion, but do not follow the FDA guidelines that include three doctor visits.  Holly Patterson died in California after following their RU-486 procedures.  The Planned Parenthood mantra that “abortion should be between a woman and her doctor” is clearly another slogan that has no basis in fact, just like “keeping government out of the bedroom.”

These Planned Parenthood slogans have nothing to do with reality, but are just phrases used for political purposes.   For truth in advertising, we suggest that Planned Parenthood ought to change their name to Planned Promiscuity.  Then they should proclaim that if that promiscuity leads to pregnancy, they see abortion as the only responsible choice.  In other words, they see abortion as mandatory.   Therefore, after translation to English, the mission of Planned Parenthood is “providing contraceptives and abortions to facilitate sexual activity with anyone at any time while ensuring that no one gets (or stays) pregnant.”

Bill Beckman