>> MANY OF OUR PATIENTS, WE ARE THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF HEALTHCARE.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S RE PRODUCTIVE HEALTH THAT REG EYE LATER TRY TO RE TO IN >> ULTIMATELY, IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH POWER.

>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO DO THE CONTRARY.

I'M BONNIE IRBY.

THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE OUR WOMEN FOUGHT LEADER SERIES WITH DR. LENA WENN, NEW PRESIDENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

SHE IS THE FIRST PHYSICIAN TO LEAD THE ORGANIZATION IN NEARLY 50 YEARS AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER FIRSTS, INCLUDING HOW YOU CAME TO THE JOB, WHERE YOU CAME FROM, WHERE YOUR FAMILY IS FROM.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> BONNIE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE WORKING NOW AS THE HEAD OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S MEANT SO MUCH TO ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.

WHEN MY FAMILY AND I FIRST IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY, I WAS -- MY MOTHER WAS A PATIENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

I WAS A PATIENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

MY SISTER WAS A PATIENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD JUST LIKE ONE IN FIVE WOMEN IN AMERICA.

I ALWAYS KNEW PLANNED PARENTHOOD AS A PLACE WE COULD COME TO FOR COMPASSIONATE AND JUDGMENT-FREE HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.

SO I'M REALLY HONORED TO BE LEADING THIS ORGANIZATION THAT'S DONE MORE FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH THAN ANY OTHER.

AND I COME TO THIS AS A PHYSICIAN, BECAUSE I'VE SEEN WHAT'S AT STAKE WHEN PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

AND I'VE ALSO SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SPECIFICALLY REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AND WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IS TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF HEALTHCARE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO CHANGE, TO TALK ABOUT HOW ALL ASPECTS OF HEALTHCARE IS HEALTHCARE.

>> WHEN YOU SAY YOU AND YOUR SISTER AND YOUR MOTHER BOTH WERE PATIENTS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD, I'M JUST CURIOUS, I REMEMBER DOING STORIES YEARS AGO.

I WAS IN ACTUALLY MOROCCO WHERE U.S.A. ID WAS FUNDING FAMILY PLANNING AND IN TRUTH, THE FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC WAS REALLY THE ONLY MEDICAL CLINIC WITHIN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILES AND THE WOMEN, SOME OF WHOM WERE PREGNANT, MOST OF WOMAN DID NOT APPEAR TO BE PREGNANT, BUT HAD AT LEAST ONE CHILD ON EACH HAND OR MAYBE ONE ALSO THAT THEY WERE HOLDING.

WOULD COME FOR PEDIATRIC CARE.

AND BECAUSE THEY WERE POOR, THEY HAD NO MONEY.

THIS WAS THE ONLY PLACE THEY COULD GET MEDICAL ATTENTION OF ANY KIND OF.

IS THAT TRUE AT CLINICS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINICS IN THE U.S.?

>> PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS OVER 600 HEALTH CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND FOR MANY OF OUR PATIENTS, WE ARE THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF HEALTHCARE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD TO PROVIDE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD?

WE PROVIDE A FULL SPECTRUM OF PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE.

WE PROVIDE CANCER SCREENINGS, BREAST AND SERVE CATH SCREENINGS OF WE PROVIDE SDI AND HIV TESTS.

WE PROVIDE VACCINATIONS.

WE DO WELL WOMEN EXAMS.

WE CARE FOR LGBTQ AND TRANS PATIENTS.

AND WE PROVIDE THE FULL RANGE OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE, BIRTH CONTROL, CONTRACEPTION, AND THE RIGHT TO SAFE LEGAL ABORTIONS, ALL OF WHICH IS HEALTHCARE.

AND FOR SO MANY OF OUR PATIENTS, THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT THEY GET HEALTHCARE.

WE SEE DIRECTLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLITICIANS TRY TO LIMIT PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO THAT CARE.

IN IOWA, AFTER FOUR OF OUR HEALTH CENTERS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE, WE SAW STD RATES SKYROCKET.

IN TEXAS, THE STATE'S OWN DATA SHOW THAT 30,000 FEWER WOMEN ACCESSED ANY TYPE OF SERVICE, ANY TYPE OF HEALTHCARE SERVICE AFTER OUR HEALTH CENTERS CLOSED.

OVER 90% OF THE WORK THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD DISPOSE THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD PROVIDES IS PREVENTATIVE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN POLITICIANS TRY TO LIMIT THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO ACCESS CARAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THEY ARE LIMITING PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO FUNDAMENTAL HEALTHCARE.

AND IT'S BLATANTLY DISCRIMINATORY, BECAUSE WEALTHY PEOPLE OF PRIVILEGE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO GET THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.

SO WHEN WE TRY TO IMPOSE BARRIERS ON CARE, ON RE PRODUCTIVE CARE, ON ALL TYPES OF CARE, THOSE WHO ARE HURT THE MOST ARE THOSE WHO ALREADY BEAR THE BRUNT OF INEQUITIES AND DISPARITIES, AND IT'S PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOW INCOME, IMMIGRANTS, L BGTQ PEOPLE, AND WE AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARE PROUD TO SERVE EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHAT WE LOOK LIKE, WHERE THEY COME FROM, WHAT THEIR INCOME, NO MATTER WHAT.

>> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SOLIDLY ANTI- ABORTION CARE THAT IT'S LOW INCOME WOMEN?

IS THAT AN ARGUMENT THAT YOU ARE HURT WHEN NOT JUST ABORTION RIGHTS, BUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE RIGHTS WITH BARRED BY A STATE LAW?

DO THEY CARE IF THEY'RE HURTING POOR WOMEN?

DO THEY CARE IF THEY'RE HURTING WOMEN OF COLOR?

>> LOOK, I COME TO THIS WORK AS A PHYSICIAN.

AND THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING AS A DOCTOR.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MY JOB IS TO PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION, EDUCATION, AND SERVICES THAT MY PATIENTS NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THE THE BEST DECISION FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR HEALTH.

I TRUST MY PATIENTS.

I TRUST WOMEN.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S RE PRODUCTIVE HEALTH THAT HAS BEEN THE ONLY AREA OF HEALTH THAT REGULATORS TRY TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO?

>> I'VE SEEN HOW REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE IS JUST STIGMATIZED AND SILOED OUT IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T DO FOR ANY OTHER ASPECT OF HEALTHCARE.

I REMEMBER IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, I LIVED NEAR A PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN ST. LOUIS AND I WOULD GO TO MY CLINICAL ROTATIONS AND SEE PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT OF BARNS JEWISH HOSPITAL AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, DOCTORS, NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS AND PATIENTS AND THEY WOULD WALK IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING HEALTHCARE.

THEN I WOULD PASS A PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND SEE PROTESTERS OUTSIDE WAIVING SIGNS, SHOUTING, AND OFTEN OBSCENITIES.

AND THINK ABOUT WHY IS IT SO DIFFERENT?

WHY ARE OUR PATIENTS AND DOCTORS AND NURSES, WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE LIFESAVING CARE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE LIFE SUSTAINING , LIFE TRANSFORMING CARE?

THIS IS ALL HEALTHCARE.

ULTIMATELY, IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH POWER, BECAUSE FOR AS LONG AS CIVILIZATION HAS EXISTED, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRIED TO RESTRICT WOMEN'S ABILITY AND OUR POWER.

>> TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN BODIES?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THIS CONTROL AND THIS POWER OVER OUR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND OVER OUR BODILY AUTONOMY, I MEAN , HOW CAN WOMEN SURELY BE EQUAL IF WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING AS BASIC AS BODILY ECONOMY?

>> RIGHT TO LIFERS SAY IT'S NOT JUST THEIR OWN BODY, THAT THERE'S ANOTHER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD CALL IT, BUT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, EVEN IF JUST AT THE POINT OF CONCEPTION INVOLVED.

WHAT DO YOU SAY BACK TO THEM IN >> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I CONTEST THE LANGUAGE THAT IS BEING USED.

BOTH THE TERMS PRO CHOICE AND PRO LIFE I PROTEST.

PRO CHOICE I CONTEST, BECAUSE THAT'S ASSUMING THAT EVERYBODY HAS THAT CHOICE WHEN ACTUALLY CHOICE IS PREDICATED ON PRIVILEGE.

WEALTHY WHITE PEOPLE MAY HAVE THAT PRIVILEGE, BUT FOR SO MANY OF OUR PATIENTS, THEY ALREADY DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE AND ALREADY LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE ROE VERSUS WADE DOESN'T APPLY TO THEM.

YOU CAN'T LITERALLY ACCESS HEALTHCARE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE CHOICE TO THAT CARE.

SO THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

>> THE STATES LIKE TEXAS, LIKE INDIANA, LIKE MIDWESTERN, SOUTHERN, BIBLE BELT STATES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE WAITING PERIODS.

THERE ARE SOME IN THE COURTS THAT'S BEING FOUGHT OVER, YOU KNOW, HOSPITAL REGULATIONS BEING IMPOSED ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINICS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE AUGUSTING ABOUT?

WOMEN IN THOSE STATES?

>> IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 400 RESTRICTIONS PASSED THAT DIRECTLY LIMIT WOMEN'S ABILITY TO RECEIVE AN ABORTION OR THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IN SOME WAY.

IN SEVEN CITIES AVERAGE THE COUNTRY, THERE IS ONLY ONE ABORTION PROVIDER LEFT.

FOR SO MANY WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY'RE ALREADY LIVING IN A POST ROE WORLD.

SO THAT'S WHY I CONTEST CHOICE.

I ALSO REALLY CONTEST THE TERM OF PRO LIFE.

I'M A PHYSICIAN.

I WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND BECAME A DOCTOR TO SAVE LIVES.

WORKING IN THE ER, I SAVED LIVES ALL THE TIME IN EVERY SHIFT EVERY DAY.

AND WHAT WE DO IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS TO PROVIDE LIFE, TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY, BEING PRO WOMEN IS BEING PRO FAMILY, IS BEING PRO COMMUNITY, IS BEING PRO ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RE CLAIM THIS LANGUAGE OF WE ARE PRO WOMEN, PRO CHOICE, PRO RE PRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

WE ARE PRO LIFE AS WELL, BECAUSE THIS IS ABOUT THE LIFE OF ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THE PATIENTS THAT WE TREAT.

>> THE MEDIA, PEOPLE JUST TALKING IN CONVERSATION, THEY ALWAYS WANT TO USE ONE SHORT PHRASE TO SAY VERY SUCCINCTLY WHAT IT MEANT TO BE IN FAVOR ABORTION RIGHTS OR OPPOSED TO ABORTION RIGHTS.

WHAT TERMS WOULD YOU USE INSTEAD >> I WOULD USE PRO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, PRO WOMEN'S HEALTH, BECAUSE THAT MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBES WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE AIMING FOR.

AND I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE WHY ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE; THAT RE PRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE IS HEALTHCARE; AND THAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND ALL ASPECTS OF HEALTHCARE TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.

THAT'S MY JOB AS A DOCTOR.

>> AND WHAT WOULD YOU CALL FORCES WHO OPPOSE WOMEN HAVING THOSE RIGHTS?

>> I WOULD SAY THEY'RE ANTI-RE PRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND ANTI-WOMEN'S HEALTH, BECAUSE THAT IS THE DIRECT CONSEQUENCE.

WORKING IN THE ER, I REMEMBER TREATING A WOMAN WHO WAITED MOURN A YEAR BEFORE SHE GOT A LUMP IN HER BREAST EXAMINED.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND BY THE TIME THAT SHE CAME IN , WE DIAGNOSED HER WITH, BY THEN, METASTATIC CANCER.

IT HAD SPREAD THROUGHOUT HER BODY.

AND NOT LONG AFTER I SAW HER, SHE DIED.

SHE LEFT BEHIND THREE YOUNG CHILDREN.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WOMEN DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TREAT ONE ASPECT OF HEALTHCARE SO DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER.

I MEAN, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN PROPOSING THEIR TITLE TEN GAB RULE.

THE GAB RULE IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD FORBID DOCTORS AND NURSES TO SAY ANYTHING TO OUR PATIENTS ABOUT ABORTION, EVEN IF THEY'RE ASKING FOR IT.

BUT WHAT OTHER ASPECT OF MEDICINE IS THIS EVEN REMOTELY ACCEPTABLE?

AND I THINK WE NEED TO CALL OUT THE INJUSTICE OF IT AND ALSO SPECIFICALLY TIE THAT TO THE SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION INJUSTICE THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO WOMEN, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO PEOPLE OF COLOR, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING TO IMMIGRANTS.

MY FAMILY, WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, WE DEPENDED ON MEDICAID.

WE DEPENDED ON FOOD STAMPS.

WHEN MY MOTHER WAS PREGNANT WITH MY LITTLE SISTER, SHE USED WIC FOR HEALTHCARE FOR NUTRITION SERVICES.

THESE ARE LEGAL PUBLIC BENEFITS.

AND FOR US, THEY WERE OUR LIFELINE.

>> AND WHAT'S THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DOING TO THEM >> THE PUBLIC CHARGE RULE, WHICH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS PROPOSED, BASICALLY SAYS THAT IF IMMIGRANTS USE THESE PUBLIC BENEFITS THAT THEY COULD BE LEFT OUT WHEN IT COMES TO GREEN CARDS OR THE ABILITY TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND JUST THE IDEA OF MAKING PEOPLE CHOOSE BETWEEN STAYING HEALTHY OR STAYING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY IS JUST UNCONSCIONABLE.

I MEAN, I'M A NEW MOM.

MAYBE I SHOULD STOP SAYING THAT.

MY SON IS NOW 15 MONTHS OLD.

>> THAT'S STILL NEW.

>> IT'S STILL MY BABY.

BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF DECISIONS I WOULD BE FORCED TO MAKE IF IT WERE BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENS IF MY SON IS SICK NOW?

DO I TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL NOW WITH HIS ASTHMA ATTACK?

OR DO I KEEP HIM AT HOME, BECAUSE IF I TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, IT MIGHT MEAN THAT WE CAN'T STAY IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> INTERESTING.

YOU'RE CHANGING AN A LOT OF THINGS.

>> THERE IS HUGE UNMET NEED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR HEALTHCARE.

IT DOESN'T BE MAKE SENSE.

THE U.S. IS THE ONLY INDUSTRIAL IZED COUNTRY WHERE THE RATE OF WOMEN DYING IN CHILDBIRTH IS INCREASING.

IT'S HIGHER NOW THAN IT WAS IN 1990.

I MEAN, HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IS NEARLY FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE IN CHILDBIRTH THAN A WHITE WOMAN.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE A 40 % HIGHER CHANCE OF DYING FROM BREAST CANCER THAN WHITE WOMEN.

WOMEN ARE, BASICALLY, CANARIES IN A COAL MINE.

WE'RE SEEING THE RATE OF MATERNAL MORTALLY INCREASE BECAUSE WOMEN'S HEALTH AREN'T BEING ATTENDED TO.

THERE ARE HUGE GAPS IN ACCESS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YES, WE NEED TO BE EXPANDING ABORTION ACCESS IN PLACES WHERE IT MAY BE BASICALLY OUT OF TOUCH OR UNAVAILABLE FOR SO MANY WOMEN IN THIS YEAR OR THIS COMING YEAR , WE MAY FACE A SITUATION WHERE ROE VERSUS WADE COULD BE OVERTURNED OR FURTHER ERODED WITH THIS NEW SUPREME COURT, WITH BRETT KAVANAUGH ON IT.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, ONE IN THREE WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE, WHICH IS 25 MILLION WOMEN, COULD BE LIVING IN STATES WHERE ABORTION IS OUTLAWED, BANNED, AND CRIMINALIZED.

I MEAN, WE NEED TO BE EXPANDING ACCESS TO ABORTION ACCESS AND RE PRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACCESS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT IS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE HEALTH EQUITY ANY THIS COUNTRY.

BUT THERE IS ALSO SO MUCH MORE THAT WE HAVE TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING HEALTH, PROVIDING HEALTHCARE, AND REDUCING THESE DISPARITIES THAT REALLY ARE UN JUST AND ARE TAKING US AWAY FROM WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE AS A CURRENT.

>> TELL ME OF THE STATES WHERE IT'S FUNCTIONALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR WOMEN TO GET ABORTIONS?

>> THERE ARE HUGE SWATH IN THE MIDWEST, IN THE SOUTH WHERE WOMEN FACE SO MANY RESTRICTIONS.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY RECENTLY TO VISIT ONE OF OUR AFFILIATES OF CARE IN MINNESOTA THAT ALSO COVERS A LARGE AREA, INCLUDING NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND OTHER UPPER MIDWESTERN STATES.

AND I HEARD FROM OUR -- FROM ONE OF OUR STATE DIRECTORS WHO WORKS IN SOUTH DAKOTA WHO SAID IN THEIR ONE CLINIC, THE ONE MR. CLINIC IN SOUTH DAKOTA THAT BECAUSE OF THE 72 HOUR WAITING PERIOD, THE LAW THAT IS NOT BASED ON ANY KIND OF SCIENCE OR MEDICINE OR DATA, THAT BECAUSE OF THAT LAW AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ISN'T -- THE MR.

DOCTOR DOESN'T LIVE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

THIS PERSON FLIES IN.

THE DOCTOR FLIES IN FROM MINNESOTA ON A MONDAY TO SEE PATIENTS.

THE PATIENT HAS TO DRIVE POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF MILES, HOURS TO COME AND SEE THIS DOCTOR AT THE APPOINTED TIME.

AND THEN WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK?

GET CHILD CARE.

PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION.

THAT WOMAN, BECAUSE OF THE FORCED WAITING PERIOD, HAS TO COME BACK IN 72 HOURS AND SEE THE SAME DOCTOR.

AND IF SHE COULDN'T FIND CHILD CARE OR TRANSPORTATION OR IF THAT DOCTOR DIDN'T MAKE HER FLIGHT THE PATIENT WOULD HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING AGAIN THE FOLLOWING MONDAY AND THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY AND BY THEN IT MAY WELL BE TOO LATE BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT HAS PASSED.

THIS IS WHAT WOMEN HAVE TO BE GOING THROUGH AROUND THE COUNTRY ALREADY.

AND NOT TO MENTION THAT IF RIGHTS ARE FURTHER RESTRICTED, WE MAY FACE A SITUATION WHERE MORE THAN 20 STATES COULD HAVE NO ABORTION ACCESS WHATSOEVER AND I THINK ABOUT THE TERRIFYING TIME THAT THAT IS FOR WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT THE SINGLE BIGGEST PUBLIC HEALTH CATASTROPHE OF OUR TIME IS THE THREAT TO WOMEN'S HEALTH.

>> THE PHARMACEUTICAL ABORTIONS, RU486 AND PLAN B, HAS THAT ALLEVIATED THE BURDEN AT ALL IN, FOR EXAMPLE, STATES WHERE A WOMAN CANNOT GO INTO A CLINIC BECAUSE IT'S HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY OR IT DOESN'T EXIST, BUT SHE CAN GO ONLINE AND BUY OR TO HER LOCAL DRUGSTORE IF THE STATE HASN'T BANNED IT OVER-THE-COUNTER.

HAS THAT EASED YOUR BURDEN AT ALL OR NO?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE SEEING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CDC JUST ISSUED A REPORT SHOWING THAT WE ARE AT ALL TIME LOW FOR TEEN BIRTH RATES, FOR UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES.

I BELIEVE WE'RE AT A 30 YEAR LOW WE ALSO ARE ZIKA PORTION NUMBERS -- SEEING ABORTION NUMBERS TOTE UNTIL DECLINE.

THE REASON WE'RE SEEK THAT IS BIRTH CONTROL.

THE REASON WE'RE SEEING THAT IS WE HAVE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION.

THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO BIRTH CONTROL.

IT'S NO COINCIDENCE THAT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE WAY THAT IT ALL PASSED, ALLOWED WOMEN TO HAVE ACCESS TO NO CO-PAY BIRTH CONTROL, WHICH HAS SAVED WOMEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

I MEAN, WE ACTUALLY KNOW IT WORKS.

I'M A DOCTOR AND A SCIENTIST AND I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE SCIENCE AND THE EVIDENCE.

AND THE SCIENCE AND EVIDENCE ARE UNEQUIVOCAL THAT WHAT'S RESULTED , WHY WE HAVE RECORD LOW UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES AND TEEN PREGNANCIES IS THAT WE HAVE BIRTH CONTROL.

BUT I AM WORRIED THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO BACKWARDS.

I MEAN, LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS FLOATED A PRO RE PRODUCTIVE HEALTH MAJORITY IN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FINALIZED A RULE THAT WOULD ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO DENY HIM BIRTH CONTROL, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT NINE IN TEN WOMEN WILL USE IN IT OUR LIFETIMES.

>> 98% OF CATHOLIC WOMEN USE BIRTH CONTROL OTHER THAN WHAT'S CALLED NATURAL BIRTH CONTROL IN THEIR LIFETIMES.

>> AND YET WE'RE SEEING THESE METHODS THAT AREST-BASED BE CONTINUALLY ATTACKED AND RIGHT BACK.

WHEN I WAS A HEALTH COMMISSIONER IN BALTIMORE CITY, I RAN A PROGRAM, I WORKED AS A PARTNER TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

WELL, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CUT THAT FUNDING WITHOUT ANY REASONING IN A SHOCKING AND UNPRECEDENTED DECISION.

AND SO WE SUE THEM AND WE WON, AND THAT ALLOWS THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN BALTIMORE TO GUESS ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

PROGRAMS LIKE THAT HELP BALTIMORE ACHIEVE A SIX 1% DROP IN TEEN BIRTH RATES IN JUST 15 YEARS.

I MEAN, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE WORKED, AND INSTEAD OF ROLLING BACK THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE BEEN MAKING, WE SHOULD BE INVESTING MORE INFORMATION.

AND ACTUALLY THAT'S WHAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES.

WE DO MORE TO PREVENTS UN INTENDED PREGNANCIES THAN ANY OTHER.

SO IF THAT'S OUR GOAL, WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

>> HAVE PHARMACEUTICAL OR CHEMICAL ABORTIONS, RU486, PLAN B, HAVE THOSE CHANGED THE WOMEN 'S RIGHTS, WOMEN'S MEDICAL RIGHTS DEBATE, DO YOU THINK?

IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOW, WHAT?

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WOMEN HAVING NONSURGICAL ABORTIONS.

HAS THAT WHOLE EVOLUTION OF A CERTAIN PART OF PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICAL CARE, HAS THAT CHANGED THE DEBATE AT ALL?

>> HAVING ADDITIONAL OPTIONS HAS CHANGED HEALTHCARE, BUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS WE HAVE CHANGED HEALTHCARE, WE'VE SEEN POLITICIANS ATTACK YET ANOTHER SAFE ASPECT OF HEALTHCARE.

ABORTION IS ONE OF THE SAFEST MEDICAL PROCEDURES.

THE CDC HAS IT AS A SAFETY PROFILE.

OVER 99%.

IT IS ONE OF THE SAFEST MEDICAL PROCEDURES.

AND I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT IT AS A PROCEDURE.

IT'S NOT SURGERY.

IT'S A PROCEDURE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND SO I THINK SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT MEDICATION ABORTIONS OR SURGICAL ABORTIONS, IT IS TERM IMPLIES THAT IT'S A BIG SURGERY WHEN, IN FACT, IT'S A PROCEDURE AND MEDICATION ABORTIONS ALSO ARE EXTREMELY SAFE AND ARE REALLY PART OF STANDARD MEDICAL CARE, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT JUST AS SOON AS WE HAVE THESE MEDICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE, POLITICIANS HAVE COME TO RESTRICT ABORTIONS AND ABORTION CARE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

MANY STATES HAVE LOST PATH FOR PHYSICIAN ONLY, CALLED PHYSICIAN ONLY LAWS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

I MEAN, I WORK IN THE ER ALONGSIDE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS WHO PERFORM HIGHLY COMPLEX PROCEDURES WHO ARE ON MINISTRY MEDICATIONS THAT HAVE FAR MORE SIDE EFFECTS THAN MEDICATION IN ABORTIONS.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF US TARGETING ONE SPECIFIC ELEMENT.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA THAT ALLOW I BELIEVE IT'S SOME TYPE OF NURSE OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO PERFORM ABORTIONS?

>> CORRECT.

AND IT WOULD NOT -- IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO CHOOSE TO HAVE ONE TYPE OF MEDICINE AND ONE TYPE OF HEALTHCARE BE TREATED SO DIFFERENTLY THAN ANY OTHER.

I MEAN, THERE ARE LAWS PASSED AROUND TEMPERATURE I MEDICINE.

TELE-MEDICINE IS IMPORTANT AS ONE WAY OF GETTING PEOPLE CARE WHERE THEY ARE, AND THERE ARE MARCH STATES THAT HAVE PASSED LAWS SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTING WOMEN'S ACCESS TO ABORTION AND OTHER REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES BY TELE-MEDICINE.

>> WOW.

>> THAT'S THE ONLY AREA?

>> THAT'S THE ONLY AREA.

WHILE THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS ALSO PROMOTING TELE-MEDICINE FOR ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF HEALTHCARE.

WHY RESTRICT THAT GO ONE?

IT'S ONE MORE EXAMPLE AND ONE MORE REASON I FEEL SO PASSIONATE , THAT'S WHAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES.

WE'RE PROVIDING HEALTHCARE TO TWO AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FIGHTING WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE IN THE COURT, IN THE STATE, IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AGAINST THIS ADMINISTRATION AND ANY OF THOSE WHO WOULD TRY TO RESTRICT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO ACCESS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN OB/GYNS WHO HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY ANTI- ABORTION GUNMEN, INDIVIDUALS WHO TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO MURDER DOCTORS OR ATTACK CLINICS BECAUSE THEY'RE OPPOSED TO ABORTION RIGHTS.

ARE YOU SAFE IN YOUR JOB?

>> ULTIMATELY, FOR ME IT HANGS ONTO WHAT DOES IT KNOWN OUR PATIENTS?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR PROVIDERS?

OUR DOCTORS, OUR NURSES, OUR CLINICIANS, SOCIAL WORKERS, STAFF WHO GET YOU KNOW EVERY SINGLE DAY TO WALK-THROUGH THE DOORS OF THEIR CLINICS TO SERVE PEOPLE.

I MEAN, THEY RECEIVE DEATH THREATS.

THEY RECEIVE BOMB THREATS.

THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH ATTACKS AND PEOPLE WHO PURPORT TO BE PRO LIFE, BUT ARE ATTACKING AND THREATENING AND ENDING LIVES.

AND I ALSO THINK ABOUT WHAT WOMEN AND PATIENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO GET CARE.

>> DR. WENN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WISH YOU GODSPEED AS YOU MOVE PLANNED PARENTHOOD FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBC.ORG/TO THE TEMPORARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> IS >> >> IS THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ONLINE EPISODE OF TO THE CONTRARY, VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT