Lawrence Journal-World opinion section

To the editor:

In a short Associated Press article about the merger of the Mid-Missouri and Kansas Planned Parenthood organizations, the only description of Planned Parenthood was as an “abortion provider.” This is like describing Lawrence Memorial Hospital as a place to get stitches when you cut yourself.

I have a friend who was for many years a doctor at Planned Parenthood. With her colleagues, she provided cancer screenings, vaccines, HIV testing and counseling, pregnancy testing and exams, treatment of yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis, birth control, STD screenings and treatment. Some of these services were for men as well as women (e.g., HIV tests and counseling, testicular cancer tests).

Planned Parenthood is a vital source for quality health care. For people of low income it can be the only accessible source for a number of crucial medical services. Yes, Planned Parenthood provides abortions, but that is far from its sole function. I suggest whoever wrote this article does their homework next time.