The November voting season is almost here, and Tennesseans will be faced with a number of amendments to the state constitution. Near the top of the ballot is Amendment 1, which, if passed, would allow the legislator to add regulation to abortion in all case—including pregnancies which put a woman’s life in danger or were caused by rape or incest.
To better understand the issue, The Daily Helmsman sat down Ashley Coffield, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood in the Greater Memphis region. A graduate of Rhodes College, She’s lived in Tennessee for 14 years. Before obtaining the top position at Planned Parenthood, Coffield comminuted to Washington D.C, working at the Public Health Foundation, the U.S. Department of Human Health Services and at the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Disease Prevention.
DH: Thank you for talking to us. Some politicians have said that Amendment 1 should pass so the state can add sensible regulations on abortion. What’s your opinion on that?
Coffield: The legislature already has the ability to make sensible regulations on abortion, and they have. Abortion is highly regulated in Tennessee. (Amendment 1) is a power grab by the legislature to take rights away from women and families.
DH: Many states, like Mississippi and most recently Missouri, have passed abortion waiting periods. What do you say to those who want to pass similar laws here?
Coffield: It’s insulting to women’s decision making capabilities and intelligence. Politicians who want to impose restrictions around health care decision making want to do so without exception for the tragic things that can happen during pregnancy—like when a woman has been a victim of rape or incest. It lacks compassion. These decisions should be between women, their doctors, their families and their faith.
DH: What kinds of regulations have been passed in Tennessee?
Coffield: In 2012 the Tennessee legislature passed a law that physicians who provide abortions must have admitting privileges at a hospital in the county county in which they practice.
DH: Do you believe that violates the state constitution?
Coffield: We did not challenge the hospital admitting privileges law because we would not have been able to prove it causes an undue burden on women. We were able to meet the requirement, and we still provide our services under that restriction.
DH: A group of demonstrators, who said they hope to end abortion, promised to stand outside the Planned Parenthood in Memphis for 40 days. Have you had any problems with them? Have they tried to contact you?
Coffield: We have not and they have not.
DH: Some of them have said that abortion causes breast cancer. Is there any correlation between getting an abortion and a higher chance of getting breast cancer?
Coffield: Recent studies say there is not, but I’d still tell anyone who asked me that to talk to their physician, an OBGYN or a medical provider. If you want an informed opinion, talk to a medical expert. Don’t talk to people who have an agenda.
DH: How late during a pregnancy can a woman get an abortion in Memphis?
Coffield: The two providers that are here only go through 13 weeks.
DH: You are against amendment 1. Why should people vote no on Amendment 1?
Coffield: Amendment 1 is a dangerous amendment that is purposely confusing to trick voters and disguise its true intent. It takes away privacy rights that are guaranteed in our constitution and it makes no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the woman. It allows the government to interfere in our private medical decisions, without exception.
DH: What do you think will happen if Amendment 1 passes?
Coffield: I think it’ll strip away basic privacy rights and will force government interference into personal medical decisions. It could take many forms, and I don’t think we want to give our legislature that power over us. They have the authority now to regulate abortion. It is highly regulated and it is very safe. This is a power grab on behalf of the legislature.
DH: How do you believe Tennesseans will vote come November?
Coffield: I think they will vote no to keep government out of medical decisions and out of the exam room. I don’t think they would give away any rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. This would be the first Constitutional amendment in the history of Tennessee that would take away established rights rather than bestow additional rights, and I don’t think we want that. I’m optimistic. Q and A
