Letter to the Editor Published in The Tennessean 1-31-12
Let’s get some things straight about Roe vs. Wade. First, do opponents really think we do not have a right to privacy? Is a person’s health care everyone’s business?
Secondly, I have been in the health-care field for 30 years, and I know of no one that is for abortions. I think we would all like to see every pregnancy be a planned event, or at least a welcome event. However, the reality is that this is not the case.
The only way to achieve the goal of total welcome pregnancies is through comprehensive, reality-based education and easy access to effective birth control. Reliance on “abstinence-only” programs is not effective. Every clinic that performs abortions has anecdotes of conservative and religious members of their community who quietly seek services when they are in a desperate situation.
Recent data show that half of pregnant teens were not using any form of birth control. Education must be reiterated and emphasized at multiple grade levels until this trend shows improvement. Meanwhile, reproductive services must be kept safe, legal and private.
Jim Maddox Hendersonville 37075