NPR Features Discussion With Planned Parenthood President About Gift Certificate Program

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Abortion;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 18 Dec 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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NPR's "Tell Me More" on Monday included a discussion with Cecile Richards -- president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America -- about Planned Parenthood of Indiana's sale of gift certificates that can be used at its clinics to pay for reproductive health care services, including abortion services. Richards said, "[W]omen are always the first to really make sacrifices for their families, and oftentimes this means ignoring their own health care needs. So we thought gift certificates were a good way to provide financially strapped women an opportunity to get affordable family planning and other services," especially in light of the poor economy. According to Richards, 97% of Planned Parenthood services are for preventive care, such as family planning services, cervical cancer and breast cancer screenings, and gynecological exams. She added that one in four women has visited a Planned Parenthood clinic and that the organization provides three million birth control prescriptions annually.

"Tell Me More" reports that many abortion opponents have voiced their opposition to the gift certificates in the media, saying that the gift certificates are "at best tasteless and deliberately provocative." Richards said, "I think that ... it's stunning, in this day and time, there are still people that oppose birth control and oppose women getting family planning services." "Tell Me More" reports that some abortion-rights opponents have said "it isn't the preventative health care services that they object to, it's the idea that the certificates can also be used for abortion." In response, Richards said that she believes it is "pretty unlikely" that someone would use a gift certificate for an abortion but that it is possible. She continued, "We are a vital provider in every single state in America. And I think this is -- the idea here is to make sure that women can get the health care that they need, particularly to prevent an unintended pregnancy when at all possible. That's the bulk of what our work is about."

When asked about the reaction from antiabortion groups, Richards said, "If they really cared about reducing unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion, they should link arms with Planned Parenthood. Because there's no organization ... that does more to help women plan their families and prevent unintended pregnancies." Richards said that the gift certificates have been "pretty popular" in Indiana but currently are not offered by any other Planned Parenthood chapter (Martin, "Tell Me More", NPR, 12/15).

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