Letter the the Editor
For Immediate Release: July 10, 2014
Contact: Laura Alpert, VP for Development and Marketing, (office) (518) 512-9027, (cell) (518) 464-4479, [email protected]
As President/CEO of Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, I applaud Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for reminding NYS law enforcement that “buffer zone laws” designed to prevent harassment at clinics remain in effect despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in the McCullen v. Coakley case. I appreciate his continued commitment to protecting the right of every patient in New York State to full and safe access to reproductive health services.
Obstruction, harassment and intimidating can interfere with women’s access to essential and lifesaving health care. This works to stigmatize and shame women for taking care of themselves and their futures. We all do what we do at Planned Parenthood for the exact opposite reasons.
I’m very disappointed with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Massachusetts buffer zone law was an effective and balanced solution to uphold public safety and access to care. Women should be able to make carefully considered, private medical decisions without judgment from strangers, or fear for their own safety.
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood’s top priority is to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. Each year nearly 10,000 women, men and teens count on our professional staff for a wide range of confidential reproductive health services. We will continue to work with local law enforcement, elected officials and our volunteer patient escorts to protect public safety.
Sincerely,
Chelly Hegan
President/CEO
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood
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Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization serving Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties. Each year, nearly 10,000 patients make more than 15,000 visits to UHPP’s health centers in Albany, Hudson and Troy. UHPP offers a wide range of reproductive health services, including annual GYN exams, PAP tests, breast exams and self-exam instruction, colposcopy, cryosurgery, STI testing and treatment, birth control information and supplies, Emergency Contraception, pregnancy testing, first trimester abortion, and referrals for adoption and prenatal care. UHPP provides more than 500 annual Education sessions and advocates for high quality reproductive healthcare.
Source
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Inc.
Published
July 10, 2014