Women's Rights to Healthcare

As a healthcare provider I have spent countless hours listening to women and supporting their choices about their own health and the health of their families. Choices about reproducing are personal and should be left to women and their healthcare providers. Women must have easy access to contraception so they can decide if and when they wish to bear children.  We must remove barriers to obtaining contraceptive services, including cost and lack of comprehensive sexuality education (both in school and in the community).  I support every woman’s right to make personal faith-based choices regarding contraception, and I will support policies that support those rights. 

People have very strong feelings about abortion. For many Americans abortion is a matter of personal conscience, and is therefore a decision that must be made by the woman, in consultation with her partner, her healthcare provider, clergy and other people of her own choosing. For others, abortion is always wrong and should never be left to choice.  I respect both views and I support policies that do the same. I believe abortion should be safe, legal and rare.

I believe we should help women who choose to continue with unplanned pregnancies with programs including Medicaid, food stamps and nutrition assistance, publically funded pre-school, and temporary support for moms to finish their education.  We should provide temporary support as needed for young parents who marry as a result of unplanned pregnancy.  We should promote adoption as a viable option for an unplanned pregnancy.

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