Abortion and Government Funded Clinics:Rust

Attorneys, clients and advocates in the case Rust v. Sullivan presented their viewpoints to reporters outside the Supreme Court after presenting arguments to the Court. Rust v. Sullivan centers around regulations created in the Department of Health and Human Services that prohibit doctors in federally funded family planning clinics from mentioning abortion to their patients as an option for pregnant women. Opponents of the regulations say the rules amount to a gag order on the freedom of speech of the doctors in the clinics. On May 23, the Supreme Court handed down their decision on the case, upholding the regulations prohibiting doctors from mentioning abortion in federally funded family planning clinics were legal. On July 17, 1991, the Senate passed a bill reversing the Supreme Court decision. close