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Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin delivered a bombshell this week announcing they will resume abortion services after the US Supreme Court up ended the constitutional right to an abortion just over a year ago the announcement comes despite existing state statute a law passed in 1849 that says any person other than the mother who intentionally destroys the life of an unborn child is guilty of a felony an existing lawsuit from three physicians challenging the
1849 law is still working its way through circuit court in July a motion to dismiss the lawsuit was rejected in that ruling Dane County Judge Diane slipper wrote there is no such thing as an 1849 abortion ban in Wisconsin the judge said the 175 year old law refers to
a
het side not consensual abortion it is under this ruling the Planned Parenthood bases its decision to resume abortion services in Madison and Milwaukee to better understand this we turn to Planned Parenthood of WISiannopoulos president and CEO Tanya succeeds and thanks very much for being here
abortions again without even a change in the law?
Well, as you as you pointed out in your introduction, the judge
was very clear that the statute that was in question does not
apply to voluntary abortions. When Roe was overturned, that that
was unclear. And Planned Parenthood Wisconsin had to make
the agonizing decision to suspend abortion services. And at
that time, you know, we made it very clear that we were
committed to finding the path forward to providing that
essential care again. There were two paths. One is a
legislative path that's not available. The second is a
legal path. And with the rulings in the in the Dane County
Circuit Court, that legal path is now there. And we're
maintaining our commitment to resume services.
To feel as though that's a path or a window at this point,
given that the case continues.
Well, we recognize that the case has not concluded. However,
twice now, the judge has made it very clear. And also
referencing a decision in the 90s from the state Supreme
Court. So so it's been it's been made very clear that the law
does not apply to voluntary abortions. So so we've received
the clarification that we need. And and you know, we'll move
forward. You know, of course, should anything happen in the
future, unexpected, you know, we'll address it at this time. But
as far as we're concerned, we're very confident in the law has
been clarified. You've said that this was not a political
decision, but a medical one. How so?
Well, you know, we've received a lot of questions about, you
know, the the situations that are happening, you know, with the
discussions regarding the Supreme Court and the state
legislature, you know, and we recognize that that's something
that's happening in the background. Our commitment was to
provide care again, as soon as we could. And so regardless of
whatever those conversations are that are happening, you know,
in our legislature, this was absolutely a health care
decision and not a political decision.
What kinds of abortions will be provided?
So we'll resume the, you know, the care that we were providing
prior to role falling. So we'll both be providing both in
clinic and medication abortions.
And again, if a court moves to block abortions, then you will
have to do like you did that day and kind of usher patients who
had already arrived out of your clinic.
Yeah, Planned Parenthood, Wisconsin always follows the letter of
the law. And as you pointed out, when role fell, we did have
people in our waiting rooms and we very unfortunately had to
let them know that we could not provide that care that day and
instead try to find them another place where they could receive
that care. So should should something happen in the future?
Of course, we will continue to follow to follow the letter of
the law. How will you reassure or do you feel that you need to
reassure patients that they won't get in trouble?
I think, you know, we will, you know, we haven't received that
question a lot. And certainly, we, you know, you know, have a lot
of education services, both in our health centers and in the
community. So we'll continue to to lift that up. And and it's
it's not a question that we've received, you know, since, you
know, since the announcement. And it's always something that we're
committed to is ongoing patient education.
So yesterday, your clinics started scheduling appointments for
Monday. Have you gotten a lot of calls?
We have we have received a lot of calls and we have appointments
set up in both Madison and Milwaukee. So when your clinics
ceased abortions last year, did you imagine this is how
services would resume?
We we we knew that there was that the legislative path forward
was was a narrow path. If it was there. And so we recognized
that the legal path forward was, you know, something we really
needed to attend to. So I think that, you know, how, you know,
exactly, you know, the words and the trajectory and, you know, we
obviously didn't know that the Attorney General is going to file
a lawsuit and we didn't know what the Dane County Circuit Court
was going to say. So so we didn't have a crystal ball on on
those specific actions. We did understand that our best course
forward was a legal a legal one.
All right. We leave it there, Tony Atkinson of Planned Parenthood
of Wisconsin. Thanks very much.
Thank you so much.
I had a question that I didn't ask. And then that is given, you
know, just how public and how, you know, everything around this
issue. Do you have additional security at these clinics?
That is a question we have been asked to like, sorry, I stumbled
on the other question. You were the first one to ask that
question about patient education. We've been asked the security
question a lot. You know, we have, you know, we continued to
maintain our security. I mean, we, we have this whole, you know,
this whole entire time we have, you know, an exceptional team
and they really both, you know, here in Wisconsin and also the
national has, you know, back up and keeps their ear to the
ground as well. So, so at this point, we're in tune to it. We
continue our exceptional security. And at this point, we,
you know, we haven't heard that of any particular threats. We
anticipated probably an uptick in protesters. You know, probably
especially on Monday. And our team is just really on top of
security. I mean, it's our top priority safety and security.
So, so they're on top of it. And if we hear anything, you know,
more is on accordingly. Okay. All right. Well, thank you. And
thank you again for your responsiveness to our invitation
and for joining us. Well, thank you so much for inviting us.
Take good care.