Search
Close this search box.

We are all warriors now…

We are all warriors now…

Choices staff 1st floor waiting room; Wonder Woman mural by Linda Stein

We are all warriors now…

This Covid-19 virus is a dire threat to the health and well being of the entire country.

Each day, each hour there is a new body count and New York City is now the epi-center of the virus.

Here, in New York, we are struggling to receive much needed ventilators and PPE (personal protective equipment) from the Federal Government to go to our Hospitals. Over 30,000 retired doctors and nurses have volunteered to go in and help.

Choices, as a licensed surgery center, has been deemed an essential facility by the State and is still operating doing abortions, seeing our pre-natal patients and some gynecological visits that are essential.

We have also offered our operating Rooms to our back up Hospital a few blocks away to help them deal with the overflow of the critical patients with Covid-19.

A two front war

In the midst of this panic, anxiety and pressure on all of us, we now have to battle a two-front war — not only against the virus but against the “antis” — who have now weaponized this pandemic to lock down their anti-woman policies. They are actually putting forward the argument that abortion is “not an essential service”.

Merle Hoffman tweet on March 24, 2020.
Merle Hoffman tweet on March 24, 2020.

Abortion is not an essential service?!

The right to Choose is a constitutionally protected right thru Roe V. Wade.. and has the unique character of being the only right that requires the direct intervention of a licensed medical provider to make it a reality. Which is why the Hyde Amendment (denying Medicaid funds for abortion) is such a betrayal of this right as well as a major discriminatory vehicle against minority poor and young women.

I despair for the women of Ohio and Texas — who I am sure will now have to either bear a child against their will — (a definition of slavery), push back their abortions to the second trimester — which has been fully documented as far riskier than first trimester abortions, and as a result will have far fewer doctors are available to do them.

Because of the fact that so many medical schools have not taught abortion techniques, that abortion has been made into a pariah and as such are done in individual facilities’ without the support  — collegially medically and professionally of the community, many of the doctors who are doing abortions are in the “high risk” age category — (two of our Choices doctors are over 70 — so they cannot even come into the clinic!)

Once again, women will try dangerous “home abortion remedies” which have killed thousands in the past and will continue to do so now.

And of course — women who cannot access abortions in Texas and Ohio are not going to be able to travel to other states to get them.

IT IS A PERFECT STORM FOR WOMEN — AND A PERFECT STRATEGY FOR THE FUNDAMENTALIST RIGHT WING!

BUT THE EMPORERS HAVE NO CLOTHES, NO COMPASSION AND NO MORALITY.

Now we see them in the full light of their ideology.

I am so proud of my staff, who are at Choices with their necessary precautions — the ones at home who are doing whatever is necessary to keep going — financially legally regulatorily-creatively and all of us who are now called to further work and sacrifice.

It is now — here — in this time and place that we are being tested..

Be a Warrior

But remember — there are many ways to do battle.

Please do what you can — this is not the time for guilt or to feel inadequate! — keep safe and remember each one of us can be a teacher and role model for those who we interact with.

Merle Hoffman
Founder/President,
Choices Women’s Medical Center

Share this on:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Schedule Your Appointment

Our team of board-certified medical professionals and support staff offer safe, trusted, comprehensive care and services at the highest level. Our state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of Jamaica Queens, NY.

Schedule an appointment with CHOICES today.

Recent News

Q& A WITH THE DOC: THE RSV VACCINE FOR MOMS

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious virus that infects …

Read More

Veteran Feminists of America (VFA) Honors Merle Hoffman

Choices Founder, President, & CEO, Merle Hoffman is featured In the VFA Pioneer Histories Project, Second Wave activists, sharing her personal history of fighting for women’s health for decades, and the development of the Philosophy of Patient Power.

Read More

Challenges, Courage, and Commitment at CHOICES

This summer has been one to remember. As I began …

Read More

YES, CHOICES is Open and Here for You!

Read More

50 Years of Choices (1971-2021)

It was 1971, 50 years ago, one half of a …

Read More

Choices Is Open – Choices Is Safe

These times are stressful for everyone. We know patients are very concerned…

Read More

Choices for Texas Women

If you live in Texas and need a safe abortion …

Read More

How CHOICES Keeps the Torch of Women’s Healthcare Blazing

Choices Women’s Medical Center has a multitude of programs to …

Read More

Courage, Compassion, and COVID: Choices Moves into its 50th Year

Founded in 1971 (two years prior to Roe V Wade), …

Read More

Birth Control Options: What IUD Is Good for Me?

There are many forms of birth control available at Choices …

Read More

Health Risks for African-American Mothers and Babies

How racism in healthcare is putting the lives of black women at risk.

Read More

A Tale of Courage and Heroism

What is it like being on the front lines of the pandemic?

Read More