Have CDC support birth control

The federal government does not have the legal right or the moral authority to order private health care providers to give contraceptives, birth control counseling or abortion services to its members. However, the federal government does have a legal responsibility to take such measures as may be necessary to protect the public health.

In order to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted disease and to prevent the mental health problems associated with abortion, the Centers for Disease Control should initiate and administer a program to provide contraceptives and birth control counseling to all sexually active adults. This service could be provided at all of the state and federal public health clinics that are already established throughout our country; and it should be paid for by federal revenues. The private health care providers would not be a part of this program.

As a matter of public health, and as a matter of compassion of caring for each other, we should do everything we can to ease the pain of those who are suffering. A birth control program run by the CDC would help to protect our public health.

Unus Vocate

Coeur d’Alene