MUMS THE WORD - THE SUPREME-COURT AND FAMILY-PLANNING

On May 23, 1991, the US Supreme Court upheld federal regulations that prohibit federally funded family planning programs from counseling abo ut or referring for abortion. As a result, government benefits may now entail substantial costs. The regulations changed the nature of gover nment-assisted family planning from comprehensive care and counseling to limited services and government-prescribed information. The reasoni ng in Rust v Sullivan allows government to limit freedom of speech in federally funded programs. The decision may have been influenced by an tiabortion sentiment, but it does not affect the legality of abortion. Instead, it sets a precedent for government control of whether and ho w health care can be discussed wherever government pays some of the bi lls.