FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Contact: Courtney Price
Human Coalition Responds to Postponement of Abortions in Texas
DALLAS, TX – Human Coalition Action Texas State Director Chelsey Youman today released the following statement supporting Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order GA 09 and Attorney General Ken Paxton’s warning for all licensed health care personnel, including abortion providers, to postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Human Coalition Action fully supports Governor Abbott and Attorney General Paxton’s directives to stop all non-essential medical procedures in Texas, including abortion on demand,” said Chelsey Youman. “While our nation is taking extensive measures to safeguard life, abortion does the opposite. Not only does it end the life of a preborn child, but it also has the potential to cause substantial physical harm to the mother during a time when emergency resources are scarce. Continuing abortion procedures during this time puts unnecessary additional burden on our state’s health care infrastructure and limits the supply of personal protective equipment for medical workers on the frontlines.”
Youman continued, “Considering that mental health risk is on the rise, it is healthier for women to take additional time to consider a procedure as serious as an abortion. Women need to know resources are available to them. That’s why, at Human Coalition, we have registered nurses and social workers working around the clock to support vulnerable women and connect them to vital resources that will last beyond the current crisis.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Human Coalition continues to support women facing unplanned pregnancies by connecting them to resources and services through their Virtual Clinic, while their physical clinics are closed in order to observe social distancing. Pregnant women in crisis can receive help by calling Human Coalition at 1-888-884-8160.
Human Coalition is one of two state contractors of the Alternatives To Abortion (A2A) program, which meets the needs of Texas women facing unplanned pregnancies by providing resources, a network of support, and a continuum of care. Through the program, Human Coalition serves over 3,000 clients a month across Texas.
On March 21, Governor Abbott issued an executive order that “all licensed health care professionals and all licensed health care facilities shall postpone all surgeries and procedures that are not immediately medically necessary to correct a serious medical condition of, or to preserve the life of, a patient who without the immediate performance of the surgery or procedure would be at risk for serious adverse medical consequences or death, as determined by the patient’s physician.”
About the Human Coalition Action:
Human Coalition Action is the public policy advocacy arm of Human Coalition, the largest pro-life organization in America. Human Coalition operates and partners with 45 women’s care clinics across the U.S., and offers a range of services designed to support pregnant women in crisis. Human Coalition Action advocates through grassroots mobilization and the government to enact pro-life policies.
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