Planned Parenthood: "Akin Made Medically, Factually Inaccurate Statement About Pregnancies and Rape"

On Sunday, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin made a medically and factually inaccurate statement , said Planned Parenthood of St. Louis and Southwest Missouri representatives.

Akin alleged that women’s bodies somehow naturally prevent pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape.”

"While Representative Akin’s latest false statement is shocking and offensive, it is not surprising to those of us in Missouri who know him best. Representative Akin has spent his entire political career supporting extreme positions that are dangerous to women’s health," the 2:06 p.m. public statement declared.

The statement listed the following examples:

1. Representative Akin co-sponsored many pieces of legislation that would overturn Roe v Wade and end safe, legal abortion in all circumstances.
2. Representative Akin co-sponsored a bill to redefine a ban on federal funding for abortions to exempt only “forcible rape” and not “rape” generally.
3. Representative Akin equates contraception with abortion and wants to ban them both.
4. Representative Akin voted to deny women access to federally funded birth control and cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood.
5. Representative Akin supports personhood efforts which have been rejected in MS, CO and OK, and that could ban common forms of birth control and IVF.
6. Representative Akin is opposed to students in public schools receiving age appropriate comprehensive sex education.

Most alarmingy, according to Planned Parenthood, is Akin’s extremist opposition to women’s health is completely in line with Mitt Romney’s running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan:

• Like Akin, Ryan co-sponsored a bill to redefine “rape” to “forcible rape” which Representative Akin has said today is what he meant by “legitimate rape.”
• Like Akin, Ryan voted last year to end funding to Planned Parenthood, putting at risk the cancer screenings, birth control, STD testing and treatment, and other preventive care that nearly three million Americans rely on each year.
• Like Akin, Ryan would end all safe and legal abortion with no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the woman.Like Akin, Ryan supports personhood legislation, which would give full constitutional rights to fertilized eggs and could ban some forms of birth control and fertility treatments.

One in five U.S. women turn to Planned Parenthood—not to make a political statement—but to get high-quality, affordable health care and medically accurate information, stated the release.

The press statement concluded:  "The contrast between Representative Todd Akin and Senator Claire McCaskill could not be starker when it comes to women’s health."

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