Van Buren County RTL

Planned Parenthood Potpourri

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While Michigan will sadly continue to be an unsafe haven where abortion up to the day of birth is embedded into our state’s constitution, there are a few signs of hope.  Yes, Planned Parenthood remains an imposing and well-funded home of the Tophet, but this past year four of their “clinics” have closed in Michigan.

Money is the big reason for those closures, but not because the Trump administration has restored the Hyde Amendment and cut off the flow by defunding Medicaid payments for any abortions except those that are conducted to save a mother’s life.  The barely regulated availability of the chemical abortifacient mifepristone by mail order is now responsible for over 60% of lost babies and much lost PP revenue.  The pill can be ordered from home, dosed at home, and with the help of a prostaglandin do its damage, all at home.  No need to bother a brick and mortar Planned Parenthood.

Because abortion clinics in Michigan are no longer required to be inspected, perhaps home abortions, if they must occur, are not such a bad idea.  Calling an abortion in an unregulated clinic “health care” begs the question:  health care for whom?

With a Michigan woman no longer required to wait at least 24 hours or of having informed consent, she may not know all the physical and mental risks associated with the procedure and its aftermath.  Again, any other “health care” intervention requires informed consent, so why this discrepancy?  Does PP provide any counseling services for a woman who will likely suffer from mental, physical or suicidal complications after she realizes her loss?  Fortunately, for now, parental consent is required, but there has been legislation promoted to eliminate that despite over 65% of we Michiganders who believe a parent must be involved in her minor daughter’s decision to abort.

Now that so-called “virtual” doctors or nurses or technicians are available to talk a woman into and thru her abortion, how much of the doctor/patient interaction does Planned Parenthood provide?  In 2024 more than 10,000 Michiganders accessed a variety of services thru PPMI’s “virtual health centers” and those services included STD diagnostics and treatments, plus birth control.  Even the damaging and misnamed gender-affirming hormone therapy is available, often to minors, as there are no safeguards due to no face-to-face contacts using telemedicine.

Michigan no longer collects reports of abortions or of the complications associated with physical or chemical abortions, so there is no way of really knowing the current status of our state’s pro-choice, pro-abortion damage in human costs and injuries.

Selective abuse by the Biden administration of the FACE Act which persecuted those who attempted to make themselves available for alternative information to a woman outside PP abortion clinics has stopped, thankfully.  Groups such as 40 Days for Life have continued to stand peaceful and prayerful vigils in front of the PP on Michigan Avenue in Kalamazoo twice a year, and Life Chain celebrates life along Westnedge Avenue in Portage each year.  Please consider joining kindred spirits there.

Most important, there are 150 pregnancy resource centers and adoption agencies in Michigan that can support families and help them decide to keep their babies or find them good homes.  Finally, keep this number handy so that if you know someone who is in the throes of making a bad decision about whether to abort her baby, she can seek good advice: 1-800-712-HELP.  And remember that there is a better choice, LIFE.