Despite Roe v. Wade being overturned, nonprofit Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest serving San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties assures women that abortion services remain legal and attainable.
“Our mission is to ensure broad public access to sexual and reproductive health care through direct service, education, and advocacy,” said Sandra Duran, Planned Parenthood’s director of communication.
Duran said there has been a recent influx of women from outside California seeking abortion services.
“We are definitely already seeing an increase in out-of-state patients, primarily from Arizona, seeking abortion care at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest,” said Duran. “Overall there has been a 77% increase in the number of abortion appointments booked from the week before the SCOTUS ruling to this week. The biggest increase is from patients coming from Arizona (1,246% increase).”
“Although we knew the decision announced by the Supreme Court was likely, to say we are extremely disappointed does not begin to encompass the deep worry we feel,” said Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest. “It is expected that over half of all states across the country will severely restrict or ban abortion entirely, including 13 states that will likely enact abortion trigger laws immediately. We share in our communities’ and patients’ sadness, anger, and fear about what this means for the short-term, and for generations to come.
“This dangerous and chilling decision will force people to flee their state to access basic, critical care, while those who cannot afford to travel for health care will have to face unbelievable choices and may end up being forced to carry pregnancies against their will,” continued Planned Parenthood’s statement. “And as we know, barriers to accessing care will only increase for people of color, people with low incomes, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people.
“It is important to note that abortion is still safe, legal, and protected in the state of California and that all patients, regardless of where they may be traveling from, will be able to access abortion care at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest.
“Today, we are facing another difficult moment, but we are not backing down – not now, not ever. As always, we stand with abortion providers everywhere, with supporters, and with all who will keep fighting until all people can be free to decide if and when to start a family. We will never compromise on our bodies, our dignity, or our ability to make choices about our own health and lives.”
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of the Pacific Southwest is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(C)(4) not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.
For more information, visit voteforchoice.org.
Planned Parenthood-Mimi Brien Health Center
Where: 4501 Mission Bay Drive.
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sundays and Mondays.
Services: abortion, birth control, HIV, men’s health, morning-after pill (emergency contraception), pregnancy testing, STD testing, treatment and vaccines, transgender hormone therapy, and women’s health.
Contact: Make an appointment for an abortion at one of 19 health centers in Imperial, Riverside, and San Diego counties by calling 1-888-743-7526. You can also book an appointment online.
Need help with travel costs? After making your appointment the contact center representative will connect you to a care coordinator to assist with travel accommodations.
Find a provider – Anyone who needs abortion care should go to abortionfinder.org to find their nearest provider.
Volunteer with Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest: Accepting online volunteer applications and have many more opportunities at planned.org/getinvolved. To receive information about upcoming Planned Parenthood events, news, abortion rights, reproductive health care, and more at planned.org/carematters.
How to help? Donate. The Abortion Access Fund provides free or reduced-cost abortion services for thousands of patients each year. Your contribution will help to ensure that no patient is turned away due to an inability to pay.
