Tuesday, April 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Planned Parenthood is expanding its Southern Nevada operations to include abortions and possibly vasectomies and prenatal care.
Sylvia Clark, executive director of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, said the office on West Charleston Boulevard will continue to emphasize female health care. This will include pap smears, sexually transmitted disease screenings and contraceptive education.
"Abortion is a well-accepted procedure in the United States," Clark said of the agency's decision to expand its Southern Nevada services. "It is safer than carrying a pregnancy to its term. But our first goal is to prevent pregnancy."
Clark said Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada decided to add abortions because the organization has been getting 80 to 100 inquiries a month. Eventually, Clark said, it plans to open more offices throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
"How saddening this is," said Kris Jensen of Nevada Concerned Citizens, a conservative, pro-family organization. "I'm saddened that an organization that professes to be for family planning is moving into destroying life on the premises."
Ruth McGroarty of the Pro Life League of Nevada was somewhat less vocal.
"The community is aware that I am pro-life and equally aware that I am always on the side of the law, and at this time abortions are legal, so I have no further comment."
Jensen was concerned that Planned Parenthood would be using money for abortions that it receives from charitable organizations. She doesn't believe contributors will be happy that their money was being used to terminate pregnancies.
The United Way of Southern Nevada gives Planned Parenthood $30,000 a year. Its recent decision could have an effect on future funding.
"This will cause us to take another look at the situation," said Garth Winckler, president of the Southern Nevada office. "We are not going to be in that business (of abortions). We've always funded a piece of Planned Parenthood, except abortions."
In instances where individuals and organizations have protested Planned Parenthood clinics by picketing, Clark said they have used local law enforcement officials and volunteer escorts to aid women seeking abortions.
Besides performing abortions, Clark said Planned Parenthood provides contraception counseling. Nevada law doesn't require that a minor get parental consent to use contraceptives or in seeking an abortion, but Clark said her counselors emphasize that the clients tell their parents.
"Most of our clients are between 20 and 30 years old," Clark said. "Only 15 percent are below age 19. We expect to have a community education center at our center. Young people will get education and contraceptive care counseling."
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