Venice Family Clinic Responds To Leaked Supreme Court Draft

VENICE, CA — Venice Family Clinic responded to the leaked Roe v. Wade draft majority opinion with a statement on how eliminating the Constitutional right to abortion would deprive women in need of vital health care services.

Venice Family Clinic CEO and Executive Director Elizabeth Benson Forer last week issued a statement following the leaked draft majority opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that would eliminate the constitutional right to abortion established nearly 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade. The decision is not yet final, and abortion remains legal for now. But if the high court does issue the ruling, Planned Parenthood reports that 26 states are poised to move quickly to ban abortion, leaving more than 36 million women of reproductive age — and other people who can become pregnant — without access to abortion.

“The court appears to be ready to roll back nearly 50 years of progress for women and their families by ending their constitutional right to determine if, when and how they will raise their families," Benson Forer said. "While we are very pleased that California’s elected leaders are committed to ensuring women continue to have access to abortion in our state, some 36 million women of reproductive age in 26 other states have lost or would lose their access to abortion if the court strikes down Roe v. Wade."

The move could put health care access on the line for millions of women and their families.

“Millions of women in need who live in these states would be deprived of this vital health care service," Benson Forer said. "They are like the vast majority of Venice Family Clinic’s patients: They are living at or below the poverty level and cannot afford to travel to states, like California, where abortion will remain legal, or their immigration status limits their ability to travel safely."

The organization felt compelled to release a statement in response to the leaked opinion.

“As one of Los Angeles’ leading health care providers to people in need, we feel compelled to speak out for people of color and low-income women who will be disproportionately affected if the court overturns this landmark ruling," Benson Forer said. "We call on our nation’s elected leaders to make abortion safe and accessible for all women, regardless of where they live, their income or their immigration status.”

Venice Family Clinic is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to people in need. It recently merged with South Bay Family Health Care, the combined organization serves 45,000 patients through 17 locations in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood, Culver City, Redondo Beach, Carson, Gardena and Hawthorne plus two mobile clinics and an expansive street medicine program for people experiencing homelessness.

The Clinic provides integrated care by creating a one-stop health system that offers multiple services, often at the same locations and same time as primary care appointments. These services include dental care, substance use treatment, mental health services, vision services, child development services, health education, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services and health insurance enrollment. Visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org for more information.