National Women’s Group Slams Texas Department of State Health Services’ Updated Abortion Pamphlets
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 8, 2016
CONTACT: Madison Donzis | madison@unbendablemedia.com | (210) 488-6220
National Women’s Group Slams Texas Department of State Health Services’ Updated Abortion Pamphlets
UltraViolet Renews Petition to Revise the Pamphlets Amidst Outcry Against a Host of New Changes in “A Woman’s Right to Know”
TEXAS — The Texas Department of Public Health has revised its updated pamphlet, “A Woman’s Right to Know,” which is legally required to be provided to women seeking abortions within the state. The pamphlets contain grossly inaccurate medical information, including exaggerated or inaccurate claims that abortion is linked to breast cancer, future infertility, and suicide. The pamphlets also describe “fetal pain” during the procedure, which physicians say is unproven.
In addition to distributing misinformation about abortion, abortion providers in Texas will now be required to bury or cremate aborted fetuses starting on December 19th. As a result, there will be substantial increases to the cost of having an abortion.
Responding to the Texas Department of Public Health’s updated pamphlets and expanded anti-abortion legislation in the State, Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet, a national women’s advocacy organization, issued the following statement:
“As if it’s not enough that women seeking abortions in Texas are forced to receive ultrasounds, they must also attend counseling and wait a full 24 hours before having the procedure, which can only be done within 20 weeks of conception — a time when many women don’t even know they’re pregnant.”
“Now these same women will be forced to read a booklet of misinformation and propaganda, featuring inaccurately scaled photos of fetal development and a list of gruesome, false risks that come with having an abortion.
“It seems that Texas officials just can’t get enough of pushing bold-faced, scientifically disproven lies onto women in order to move their own anti-abortion agendas forward. It’s time to change the rulebook and provide all women with medically factual and accurate information. It’s the least they deserve.”
Earlier this year, UltraViolet petitioned the Texas Department of State Health Services, demanding the removal of medically inaccurate information in the pamphlets arguing that they mislead women about critical reproductive healthcare information. The petition has garnered over 35,000 signatures and has sparked public comment from over 400 Texans.
SEE THE PETITION HERE: https://act.weareultraviolet.
In July, allies including Progress Texas, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, UltraViolet. Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, and Texas Equal Access Fund delivered nearly 5,000 comments urging the Department to revise the misinformed pamphlets.
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