Letters: Cape Cod Healthcare could provide abortion services. Why doesn't it?
In "Cape Cod's lack of abortion services dates from 2008, and forces longer travel times, advocates say" (May 14), state Sen. Julien Cyr explained: "The Cape’s community health centers receive federal funding, and that presents a roadblock. You’re federally regulated and you can’t provide those services. Cape Cod Healthcare runs into similar problems as well.”
On the contrary, receiving federal funding does not prevent a healthcare organization from performing abortions. For example, a Brigham and Women's Hospital website lists an array of abortion services that are available at its Family Planning Center outpatient procedural unit in Boston.
The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funds from covering abortion services for women or girls enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Neither Hyde nor any other federal regulation restricts Massachusetts health care organizations from performing abortions.
Federal funding is not the reason why Cape Cod Healthcare does not perform abortions. Cyr is quoted as saying he would like to see abortion services restored on the Cape. He could achieve that goal by persuading Cape Cod Healthcare to change its elective no-abortion policy.
Ronald A. Gabel, M.D., Yarmouth Port
Marking 1million U.S. COVID deaths
My condolences to all those who have lost family members, loved ones and friends to COVID-19.
My brother-in-law died of COVID-19 at Cape Cod Hospital on April 24, 2020. After three weeks on a ventilator, he was slowly improving but suddenly suffered a series of strokes which left him in a vegetative state. After my sister-in-law, niece and nephew said their final heartbreaking and tearful goodbyes and left, he was taken off the ventilator and died shortly thereafter.
Pandemic: As nation records 1M COVID deaths, Cape Cod remembers those we lost
With respect to COVID-19, on April 23, 2020, President Donald Trump stated: "I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute. And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? As you see, it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that out."
At this point I'll stop writing, because I'm having trouble seeing through my tears.
Mike Rice, Wellfleet
There are too many guns in the U.S.
The 18-year-old shooter in Buffalo, New York, has a brain that isn’t fully developed yet, is an alleged racist and believer of internet lies, according to police. He can have as many of those beliefs and lies as he wants, but how did he get a gun?
'We don't feel safe': Many Black Americans experiencing grief, trauma after Buffalo shooting
Oh, I know, he could get someone to buy one for him, it could be a family item, or, he could make one. There are more guns in this country than there are people. What’s wrong with that statement? Everything. RIP to 10 Buffalo people of color.
Lee Bartell, Eastham
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Healthcare could provide abortion services but doesn't
