Women's Reproductive Health Rights at Risk: Komen, Planned Parenthood and Politics

Update: Susan G. Komen for the Cure has reversed itself, revising the policy that was put into effect in order for the organization to rescind funding for Planned Parenthood. Read more.

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Yesterday women's reproductive healthcare rights were dealt yet another blow from the conservative right. The AP reported that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure will no longer provide grants for breast cancer screening to community healthcare provider Planned Parenthood. Komen, established in 1982 is the most well-known and well-funded breast cancer nonprofit in the United States, commanding worldwide presence and recognition.

Last year, Komen gave Planned Parenthood nearly $680,000 to pay for breast cancer screening and breast health education. These services are primarily accessed by women in low-income, at-risk families, in rural areas of the U.S. Komen's 2011 funding paid for approximately 170,000 clinical breast exams (the first line of defense in discovering the presence of breast cancer) and provided more than 6,400 mammogram referrals for women identified as needing more diagnostic testing for breast cancer at Planned Parenthood.

According to the Associated Press, Komen's spokesperson said the decision was based on "newly adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities". These "newly adopted" criteria were put into effect just after a Republican Representative initiated an investigation of Planned Parenthood's financial policies.

The politically-motivated investigation launched last Fall by Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., includes an audit of up to 13 years of the healthcare provider's records to see if there is a clear funding divide among PP's offered services. Public funds cannot be used for abortion services but can be used to support Planned Parenthood's family planning and other healthcare services. Although Planned Parenthood's abortion services consist of less than 10% of its overall healthcare offerings, it has long been the target of conservatives who want abortion outlawed. But bullying Planned Parenthood and trying to shut them down to stop abortions takes away from the hundreds of thousands of women who seek preventive healthcare. In fact, one in five women seeks care from Planned Parenthood at some time in their lives specifically to access the more than 90 percent of Planned Parenthood health care services that are preventive, "including lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, prevention and treatment of STDs, breast health services, Pap tests, and sexual health education and information".

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been pressured by anti-abortion groups for years to end their funding of Planned Parenthood's healthcare initiatives, and this year the pressure finally became too uncomfortable for the nonprofit. Unfortunately, Komen's withdrawal of funds from Planned Parenthood is only the latest in an ongoing set of politically-motivated attacks on women's reproductive healthcare services by Republicans and anti-abortion activists.

Just three days ago Newt Gingrich, in his attempt to win the Florida primary to become the 2012 Republican candidate for President made several promises to voters on the campaign trail that are detrimental to women's rights and their access to reproductive healthcare services. He promised a Federal ban on embryonic stem cell research (a completely opposite position from his support for the government funding of stem cell research when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives a decade ago) and a federal "commission" to investigate the ethics of IVF.

State politicians are trying to limit women's rights, as well. Since 2007 several "personhood" laws have been proposed. These laws seek to legislate the definition of what a "person" is, specifically that an embryo is a person from the moment of conception. Such proposed legislation is a danger to women's reproductive health and would cause a cascade of consequences for the lives of millions of Americans. Designed to outlaw abortion, "personhood" will have a direct impact on infertility treatment and services. With much of assisted reproductive technology, including IVF, eggs are fertilized by sperm in a controlled laboratory environment; a "personhood" law would surely outlaw such procedures, providing patients with fewer treatment options and riskier treatment options to both the mother and the embryos.

It is disheartening to learn that Susan G. Komen for the Cure is less concerned about women's healthcare and more concerned about politics. By halting grants to Planned Parenthood, Komen puts additional limits on women's access to reproductive healthcare and is in direct opposition to Komen's core mission to "save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures" in the fight against breast cancer. Komen's actions put more women at risk for developing breast cancer, being subjected to financial, emotional and physical consequences of cancer treatment, death from cancer, and infertility related to chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Political influence and control over women's reproductive rights is harmful to women. Each attempt by right-wing conservatives to limit women's healthcare choices causes collateral damage not only to women but to their families, their children, and their communities. Those entrusted with political power have an obligation to try and meet the needs and rights of their constituents and there should be no tolerance for political bullying or special interest agendas.

Take action in support of women's rights Contact Komen and Speak Up Letters: Susan G. Komen for the Cure 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250 Dallas, TX 75244 Calls: 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) Email: Use the form located on Komen's website Contact Us section Tell Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., to Stop the Planned Parenthood Investigation Letters: Representative Cliff Stearns 2306 Rayburn House Office Bldg Washington, DC 20515 Calls: (202) 225-5744 Fax: (202) 225-3973 Electronic Form: Use the form located on Stearns' website Contact page Speak Up Add your name to an open letter in support of women's rights, which are slowly eroding away as more of our reproductive healthcare rights and options are taken away Visit RESOLVE's Center for Infertility Justice The Center for Infertility Justice "is where RESOLVE brings together its advocates, supporters, partners, and like-minded organizations to effectively study, defend, and promote infertility. The goals of the Center are to promote access to care for all who need it, fight any attempts to restrict or eliminate that care, and provide research and data to support positive public policy for the infertility community. RESOLVE, the only patient advocacy group in the U.S. that fights for the rights of women and men who are infertile has seen an increasing need to bring together the community to ensure that our voices are heard."