The Healthcare Policy Podcast ®  Produced by David Introcaso
The Healthcare Policy Podcast ® Produced by David Introcaso
300th Podcast Interview: Merle Hoffman Discusses Her Just-Published, "CHOICES, A Post-Roe Abortion Rights Manifesto"
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300th Podcast Interview: Merle Hoffman Discusses Her Just-Published, "CHOICES, A Post-Roe Abortion Rights Manifesto"

Hoffman argues Dobbs strips a fundamental civil and human right from more than half the population, the right of a woman to control her own body. The power of the state must stop at our skin.

In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court in June 2022 reversed the court’s previous 1973 Roe v Wade decision, and 20 related cases, wiping out a half century of constitutional protections for women’s reproductive rights.  In Dobbs, the court found the Constitution now excludes a woman’s control over her body as well as the possible continuation of her life.  Compelled pregnancy, involuntary childbirth and forced parenthood is not, the court ruled, an essential part of the “liberty” protected under the 14th amendment - or presumably even the freedom of “involuntary servitude” protected under the 13th amendment.  Dobbs effectively demotes women to the status of an involuntary vessel entitled to no more respect than other forms of collectively-owned property.  Since some have termed the Dobbs decision a “break the glass” moment, Ms. Hoffman has published her “post-Roe abortion rights manifesto,” that leverages her five decades of reproductive rights work to shed light on the repercussions of overturning Roe and work she believes now needs to be done, or redone, to ensure the safety and legality of reproductive rights. 

Ms. Merle Hoffman is an American author, activist, feminist health care innovator who established one the first abortion clinics in the US, CHOICES Women’s Medical Center in Queens, New York. CHOICES also provides prenatal care, all-options counseling, GYN visits, mental health services, and trans health services.  Ms. Hoffman was the publisher and editor-in-chief of On the Issues magazine (1983–99) and is also the author of Intimate Wars (Feminist Press, 2012). She is the cofounder of the National Abortion Federation.

Information on Ms. Hoffman’s book is at: https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/9781510776951/choices/.

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The Healthcare Policy Podcast ®  Produced by David Introcaso
The Healthcare Policy Podcast ® Produced by David Introcaso
Podcast interviews with health policy experts on timely subjects.
The Healthcare Policy Podcast website features audio interviews with healthcare policy experts on timely topics.
An online public forum routinely presenting expert healthcare policy analysis and comment is lacking. While other healthcare policy website programming exists, these typically present vested interest viewpoints or do not combine informed policy analysis with political insight or acumen. Since healthcare policy issues are typically complex, clear, reasoned, dispassionate discussion is required. These podcasts will attempt to fill this void.
Among other topics this podcast will address:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
Other federal Medicare and state Medicaid health care issues
Federal health care regulatory oversight, moreover CMS and the FDA
Healthcare research
Private sector healthcare delivery reforms including access, reimbursement and quality issues
Public health issues including the social determinants of health
Listeners are welcomed to share their program comments and suggest programming ideas.
Comments made by the interviewees are strictly their own and do not represent those of their affiliated organization/s.