*** Content warning: In support of trauma-informed communications, please be aware that this message contains topics that may be activating for survivors of gender and racial violence. The Confidential Advocacy Program can be reached 24/7 by calling 833-495-2277. ***
As an academic health center with a public mission to improve everyone’s health and well-being, we work tirelessly to ensure equitable access to health care, including abortion therapies. Ensuring access to abortion is essential if we are to preserve the lives and well-being of all individuals, and is recognized by the World Health Organization and United Nations as a core human right.
OHSU leads in providing complex reproductive services to Oregonians and those from other states. We strongly condemn Texas law Senate Bill 8 that bans abortion in nearly all instances and will have devastating health impacts on the people of Texas. It also sets a dangerous precedent for other states. Restricting access to abortion disproportionately affects people who already experience barriers to health care and, thereby, perpetuates multi-generational cycles of health inequity and adverse health outcomes. In direct conflict with our values, the law also turns community members against one another by rewarding citizens who report those seeking or providing abortions.
A person’s right to make decisions that impact their health that is not limited by access, bias, prejudice or the absence of choice is at the heart of the patient- and family-centered care that we strive to provide every day to every patient.
As such, we are incredibly proud of our providers, researchers and learners and stand by their efforts to advance health care for people across Oregon and worldwide. We remain committed to advocating for comprehensive access to reproductive services, providing high-quality patient care to all people, and training the next generation of reproductive health care providers and researchers.