OHSU condemns Senate Bill 8 on Texas law and calls for equitable access to health care

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As an academic health center with a public mission to improve the health and well-being of everyone, we work tirelessly to ensure equitable access to health care, including abortion therapies. Ensuring access to abortion is essential if we are to preserve the life and well-being of all individuals, and is recognized by the World Health Organization and the United Nations as a fundamental human right.

OHSU leads the provision of complex reproductive services to residents of Oregon and those of other states. We strongly condemn the Texas law, Senate Bill 8, which bans abortion in almost all cases and will have devastating effects on the health of Texas residents. It also sets a dangerous precedent for other states. Restricting access to abortion disproportionately affects people who already face barriers to health care and therefore perpetuates multigenerational cycles of health inequities and adverse health outcomes. In direct conflict with our values, the law also pits community members against each other by rewarding citizens who report those who request or offer abortions.

A person’s right to make decisions that affect their health and that are not limited by access, bias, bias or lack of choice is at the heart of patient-centered care and family that we strive to provide every day for every patient.

As such, we are incredibly proud of our providers, researchers, and learners and support their efforts to advance healthcare for people in Oregon and around the world. We remain committed to advocating for full access to reproductive health services, providing high-quality care for all, and training the next generation of reproductive health care providers and researchers.