Everyone Deserves Access to Reproductive Healthcare

June 27, 2022 Ascentria Care Alliance

Devastating impact. The Supreme Court’s disastrous ruling in overturning Roe v. Wade last week will have tragic implications for people across the board, but especially for Black, Brown, LGBTQ+ and low-income members of our communities.

No matter what your personal opinion on the situation is, there is no argument that will remove the pain and suffering that will be caused by this decision. There are far too many circumstances that legislation cannot possibly be expected to understand or anticipate in a personal health decision – never mind the privacy implications of this type of shared information.

As written in the Thomas concurrence, there are indications that other key rights may be targeted as a result of this ruling as well.

This decision shifts the determination to the state on whether or not reproductive healthcare can be accessed or not. In New England, most states have preserved this right in state law, though we have seen some recent shifting in New Hampshire that may challenge that right in that state.

We strongly urge our legislators to change the laws at the federal level and to strengthen/preserve existing laws at the state level, to ensure that reproductive health is treated for what it is – a personal healthcare decision to be made between a patient and provider. We encourage our community members to be educated and to vote at every possible opportunity to ensure that their voices are heard.

Our team is made up of almost 75% women, so the toll of the decision will be felt strongly across our organization. We will continue to advocate for the health and safety of all those we serve and those that provide services. We firmly believe this includes access to reproductive healthcare.

In the meantime, stay strong.

Angela Bovill, Ascentria president and CEO