Pioneers
in Family Planning
Family Planning Associates Medical Group (FPA) was
founded in 1969, soon after abortion became legal in California. At that time
it was called the Avalon-Slauson Medical Group. All of the pregnancy terminations
and other medical services were performed at Avalon Memorial Hospital in Los Angeles.
In many states, abortion was legal only for cases in which continuance
of the pregnancy would be life threatening. California law was relatively
liberal and many women came from Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and other states
to receive legal abortions.
FPA's two physician founders, Dr. Edward C. Allred and Dr. Kenneth L.
Wright, began immediately to concentrate on developing simpler and less
expensive abortion procedures. In those early years, Dr. Wright pioneered
the use of saline amniocentesis, a technique for terminating pregnancy
safely in the second trimester.
The medical expertise of
Allred and Wright and their success in simplifying abortion procedures soon made
FPA the leading provider of abortion services in California. First Outpatient
Facility
The United States Supreme Court ruled that state laws restricting
abortion were unconstitutional in January of 1973 (Roe v. Wade).
As part of the decision, the Court ruled that abortions no longer
had to be performed in hospitals. This landmark decision opened
the way for pregnancy terminations and other family planning services
to be provided in outpatient facilities. It was now possible to
develop a warmer, more flexible environment and reduce fees.
Several months later, FPA opened Southern California's first major outpatient
pregnancy termination facility in Santa Ana. In the years since 1973,
twenty-four other facilities have been added with the service area expanded
to include Chicago, Illinois, making FPA the largest independent family
planning service network in the United States. A list of FPA office locations
appears in this web page.
Recognized
by Major Health Agencies
A major factor contributing to FPA's rapid growth
has been the large number of private and government agencies, as well as physicians
in private practice who choose not to perform abortion and sterilization procedures
but rather refer their patients to FPA for these services. A list of referring
organizations will be provided on request. Modern Equipment Warm Environments
FPA clinics are supplied with modern medical equipment and staffed by physicians
and nurse practitioners who are professionally trained in all aspects of pregnancy
prevention and pregnancy termination. Facilities are designed and furnished to
provide a warm, comfortable environment in which patients can feel at ease. Family
Planning Services Offered
Professional services provided at FPA offices
throughout the state include: - Pregnancy testing
- Early pregnancy
testing
- Abortion
- RU486
- First trimester (13 weeks)
- Dilation/curettage
(aspiration )
- General or local anesthesia
- Second trimester
- Dilation and extraction
- Birth control
- Gynecological
exam
- Information on methods
- Assistance in choosing a method
- IUD (intrauterine device) a long
- term birth control method
- Sterilization by tubal cauterization
- Well Women Exam
- ECP (emergency contraceptive pill)
Skilled,
Professional Physicians
In keeping with our commitment to provide the
finest quality medical service available, all FPA physicians practice exclusively
for Family Planning Associates Medical Group, Inc. Patients are given complete
information about what to expect when they leave the facility. Any post-operative
questions and problems are evaluated and resolved promptly and appropriately at
no additional fee. We thank you for choosing Family Planning Associates
Medical Group, and we hope that this information about FPA will increase your
confidence in us. Your comments, suggestions, and criticisms
are invited.
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