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Tell Iowa to Protect Reproductive Choice for Rural Women
  1. Signatures
    273 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. The Governor of IA (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The Governor of IA
      • The IA State Senate
      • The IA State House
  2. Created By
    Roxann MtJoy
    Mount Vernon, NY
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

 

Planned Parenthood in Iowa have developed an effective telemedicine system where doctors video conference with patients and are able to dispense medication via remote control. But now, Iowa state legislators have vowed to work to ban the practice, effectively cutting off thousands of women from access to safe, affordable abortion care.

Abortion is legal and the telemedicine practice is safe. Women receive in-person counseling and education on the procedure and potential side effects. Mind you, this is all taking place at her local clinic, not at home on her couch. Doctors who are willing to perform abortions can be nearly impossible for rural women to find — 86% of counties in the United States do not have an abortion provider — yet Senator Fulton thinks this is inappropriate and something belonging to the "realm of science fiction." Really?

Those who oppose reproductive telemedicine have nothing to back up their fear-mongering. The dangers they claim are the real science fiction. Tell Iowa not to abandon its rural women in need of abortion care. 

Photo credit: Steve Rhodes

 

Recent Signatures

Protect Reproductive Choice for Rural Iowa Women

Greetings,

Iowa is fortunate enough to have a telemedicine program that ensures that rural women have access to safe, affordable abortion care. Yet, there are those in the state legislature who want to do away with that program in 2011. I am writing to you today to say what a travesty that would be, especially for low-income families.

The telemedicine practice is safe. Women receive in-person counseling and education on the procedure and potential side effects.This takes place at her local clinic, not at home on her couch. Doctors who are willing to perform abortions can be nearly impossible for rural women to find — 86% of counties in the United States do not have an abortion provider — so Iowa is doing its women a great service by ensuring that they have access to the reproductive care that is their right.

Please do not be swayed by fear mongering. Telemedicine is the future for all medical fields, not just abortion. There is no evidence that supports any claim of it being dangerous. Whether you are pro-choice or not, the fact is that abortion is safe and legal and it is not the state's place to override doctors' judgment or put obstacles in the way of women exercising their right to choose. Please do all that you you can in the coming year to ensure that Iowa doesn't take a step backwards in reproductive freedom and leave thousands of women stranded.

Thank you.

[Your name]

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