Richard Grossman is one of the most compassionate and conscientious physicians I have known. His March 27 Herald column, “Remember the truth about the history of abortion,” stirred an all-too-often recurring memory from medical school 50 years ago. It is that of an inner-city, OB-Gyn ward and a dimly lit patient (or patients), wide-eyed with fear, pale and sweaty, with rapid pulse and collapsing blood pressure. No male figure is present to console her or mop her brow – she is dying alone of a “backstreet” illegal abortion. She and others like her often have several other children and are desperate not to have another. Her death will have the unintended consequences of orphans left behind and concomitant huge societal costs.

Banning abortion may not be the best answer. Sex education and early contraceptive action, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives, are proven solutions. Funded by a $22 million grant (essentially free contraception from clinics), adolescent pregnancies in Colorado declined 40 percent from 2009 to 2013, as did abortions (42 percent). Decreased abortions were seen in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties of 65, 45 and 70 percent, respectively. And, the state program is estimated to save five Medicaid dollars for every dollar spent. With the grant money expiring in 2015, a request for $2 million a year to continue the program was killed in committee by male legislators.

Colorado has the highest number of female legislators at 41 percent; the other 49 states average 24 percent. Perhaps, we need more females, and shouldn’t agencies such as Planned Parenthood be applauded for their role in decreasing abortions?

Fraser Houston

Durango