ANA Hails Supreme Court Decision to Protect Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Services

For Immediate Release:
June 27, 2016

Contact:
Jemarion Jones, 301-628-5198
jemarion.jones@ana.org

Steve Carpinelli, 301-628-5034
steve.carpinelli@ana.org

ANA Hails Supreme Court Decision to Protect Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Services

SILVER SPRING, MD — The American Nurses Association (ANA) hailed today's 5-3 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt case.  At issue were laws passed by the Texas legislature that required physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals and forced clinics to meet hospital-like standards of surgical centers. Consequently, more than half of the state's abortion clinics had to close, which unfairly restricted access to reproductive health services.

"The American Nurses Association is gratified by the Court's decision," said ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.  "The Supreme Court has sent a powerful message that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land and that efforts to pose obstacles and restrict a woman's access to reproductive health will not stand.

ANA has advocated and will continue to fight for affordable, quality health care for all people, including services related to reproductive health. ANA believes that individuals have the right to privacy and the right to make personal decisions about their health without coercion or unnecessary barriers."

On Dec. 31, 2015, ANA, along with other health care organizations and medical experts, filed an amicus brief, or "friend of the court" brief, supporting the petitioner, Whole Woman's Health, and other providers.