Ohio Right to Life Responds to

							                             Ohio Right to Life Responds to
                                "Prevention First Act"


(Columbus, OH) On April 22nd, Planned Parenthood and others will hold its lobby day at the
Ohio Statehouse in support of the so-called "Prevention First Act". Planned Parenthood
characterizes this legislation as an effort to prevent unintended pregnancies. In fact, the only
thing it will prevent is the exercise of freedom of conscience.

"Although supporters of the 'Prevention First Act' claim to be 'pro-choice', they would deny pro-
life people in the health care professions the 'freedom to choose' not to participate in the
destruction of human life," said Mike Gonidakis, President of Ohio Right to Life. "Violating the
conscience rights of health care professionals could force some people to leave the profession,
and ironically, decrease access to health care, rather than increase it," Gonidakis said.

On April 20th, Ohio Right to Life and its affiliated chapters, from Cincinnati to
Cleveland, delivered "truth packets" to the members of the Ohio General Assembly providing the
facts about Planned Parenthood, the Prevention First Act and the importance of protecting
freedom of conscience for health care professionals. "The pro-life movement in Ohio will
vigorously oppose this misguided and misleading legislation," Gonidakis said.

The "Prevention First Act", as introduced in the 127th General Assembly, centered on forcing the
provision of the "morning-after after pill", which is sometimes misleadingly referred to as
"emergency contraception".

Although proponents claim requiring the provision of "emergency contraception" will decrease
unintended pregnancies and abortions, a January 2007 Obstetrics & Gynecology study by
leading proponents of the drug found that increased access to "emergency contraception" had
not reduced the rates of abortion or unintended pregnancy.

The Prevention First Act would force pro-life pharmacists and religious hospitals to provide
"emergency contraception" despite religious or moral objections. This would require persons
who took and adhere to the original Hippocratic Oath to violate its requirement that "I will not
give to a woman an abortive remedy".

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              CONTACT: Mike Gonidakis
DATE: 04-21-2009                  PHONE: (614) 547-0099 x - 301




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