HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/10/2026 - Email - Kelsey B - BOS Consent Agenda - abortion clinicsWARNING: This Message Is From an External Sender, Use Caution!
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From:Kelsay B
To:Board of Supervisors
Subject:[EXTERNAL] - BOS Consent Agenda
Date:Tuesday, February 10, 2026 12:53:36 PM
Dear Members of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors,
I'm writing to express my opposition to amend the provisions of the Roanoke County zoning
ordinance to Restrict the Operation of Abortion Clinics.
Evidence shows that reduced access and resulting delays in care can be detrimental to
women’s health. When clinics close or services are limited, patients often face longer travel
distances, extended wait times, and increased financial burdens. These delays can push care
later into pregnancy, when procedures are more medically complex, carry higher risks, and are
less widely available. For some patients, especially those with limited resources, delays may
result in being unable to obtain care altogether, increasing the likelihood of adverse physical
and mental health outcomes.
Delays in abortion care can also have lasting implications beyond the immediate pregnancy.
Prolonged gestation and forced continuation of an unwanted or medically risky pregnancy can
negatively affect a woman’s overall health and may increase complications that impact future
fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Courts have recognized that the combined effect of clinic
closures, travel requirements, and waiting periods creates substantial obstacles to timely, safe
medical care. Further restricting abortion services in Roanoke County would likely exacerbate
these harms by delaying essential care and placing women’s short- and long-term health at
risk. If we mean to encourage women to choose life, there are better proven alternatives than
restricting care.
Respectfully,
Kelsay Bratton
Vinton, VA