Supreme Court to Decide Whether to Protect Women's Health
Synopsis: Press Release in advance of Supreme Court oral arguments in Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2005
SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE WHETHER TO
PROTECT WOMEN’S HEALTH
Boston, MA – On Wednesday, November 30, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case of Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
“This case demonstrates just how high the stakes are when it comes to the balance of the Supreme Court,” said Melissa Kogut, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. “If the Supreme Court backs the position supported by the Bush administration, it could effectively dismantle Roe v. Wade’s core protection of women’s health and block doctors from challenging restrictions that pose a threat to their patients’ health. The wrong decision would allow politicians – not doctors – to determine when the women of Massachusetts can and cannot receive critical medical care.”
“In Massachusetts, we are fortunate to have a pro-choice legislature who supports and protects women’s reproductive health and freedom,” added Kogut. “However, anti-choice lawmakers in our state could seek to pass restrictions on abortion care and we cannot count on Governor Romney to protect women’s health .”
NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, along with NARAL Pro-Choice America, NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire and 23 other state-based affiliates filed a “friend of the court” brief in the Ayotte case. Building on years of research and lobbying on state legislation, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its affiliate network argues that the Court should not allow a dangerous precedent that would open the floodgates for legislatures to enact abortion restrictions without exceptions to protect women’s health.
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