The right to life or the right to choose has been debated nationally since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

Last week, the debate came home to Green.

“To the best of my knowledge, this is the first facility in Green,” said Julie Hritz, advocacy director and Pro Life Youth Congress Advisor for the Akron-area Right to Life.   

G&H Healthcare opened a full service women’s healthcare facility at 1575 Corporate Woods Parkway.

“We provide our patients with family planning and pregnancy termination services,” said Lydia Baker, G&H Healthcare director. “Unfortunately, the extremists who are protesting outside our office oppose both of these types of services.”

Right to Life supporters are conducting “awareness protests,” said Hritz. “We are protesting. We’re urging residents to call the mayor and city zoning and to write letters to the editor.” They have also contacted local pastors.

“We believe that women should be able to make their own reproductive health care decisions, therefore, we supply our patients with medically accurate information so they can make informed decisions,” said Baker. “Unfortunately, the protesters are distributing medically inaccurate and misleading information to our patients and neighbors in their desperate attempt to intimidate our patients and cause concerns for tenants of our building.”

“We distribute materials and posters,” said Hintz. “We know at this facility RU 486, an abortion drug, is prescribed. There have been eight deaths in the United States. The drug has adverse effects.”

But Baker said, “G&H Healthcare is committed to providing quality health care in a caring, professional environment. We look forward to providing health care services to the women of Summit County for years to come.”

Baker said soon the facility will provide patients with adoption services.

“There is another choice,” said Hintz. “There are more pregnancy care centers than abortion clinics in this area. There are people who will help women financially and emotionally. Adoption is an option.”

G&H Healthcare has been in existence since 2003 and recently expanded into Green.