A statement on abortion by 100 professors of obstetrics: 40 years later (original) (raw)
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American journal of public health, 2003
The autonomy granted to physicians is based on the claim that their decisions are grounded in scientific principles. But a case study of the evolution of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' abortion policy between 1951 and 1973 shows that decisions were only secondarily determined by science. The principal determinant was the need to preserve physician autonomy over the organization and delivery of services. As a result, the organization representing physicians who specialized in women's reproductive health was marginal to the struggle for legalized abortion. But, the profession was central to decisions about whether physicians would perform abortions and how they would be done. This case study finding has implications for understanding the role that organized medicine might take in the ongoing debates about national health policy.
Obstacles to the Integration of Abortion Into Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2010
CONTEXT: Obstetrics and gynecology residents who are trained in family planning and intend to provide abortions after residency often do not ultimately do so. The extent of the professional barriers physicians face trying to integrate abortion into their practice is unknown.
Abortion education in medical schools: A national survey
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2005
This survey was performed to examine the inclusion and extent of abortion education in US medical schools. Study design: A 3-item confidential survey requesting information about abortion education throughout the 4 years of medical school was mailed to the OB-GYN clerkship directors of the 126 accredited US medical schools. Results: Seventy-eight surveys were returned, for a response rate of 62%. Overall, 17% of clerkship directors reported no formal education about abortion either in the preclinical or clinical years. In the third-year OB-GYN rotation, 23% reported no formal education, whereas 32% offered a lecture specifically about abortion. While 45% of third-year rotations offered a clinical experience, participation was generally low. About half of schools offered a fourth-year reproductive health elective, but few students participated. Conclusion: Abortion education is limited in US medical schools. As an integral part of women's reproductive health services, abortion education deserves a place in the curricula of all medical schools.
Connecticut physicians' attitudes toward abortion
American Journal of Public Health, 1976
While attitudes regarding abortion and its legalization among various segments of the general American public have undergone considerable analysis since the early 1960s1. , 3little is currently known about physicians' attitudes.2' 4 In order to obtain more extensive data on the broad range of factors relating to physicians' attitudes toward abortion, all Connecticut-licensed specialists in obstetrics and gynecology and a small sample of family physicians were invited to participate in a study of several aspects of the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components of attitudes toward abortion.
Attitudes and Intentions of Future Health Care Providers Toward Abortion Provision
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2004
Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health attending the University of Washington and their intention to provide abortion services in their practices. The primary outcome of this study was students' intention to incorporate abortion into their practice. Secondary outcomes were willingness to seek abortion training and attitudes toward advanced clinical practitioner provision of abortion services. On the basis of previous work, we hypothesized that students in medical programs, those in women's health-oriented programs and those who spent their first 15 years of life in an urban area would be more likely than others to intend to provide abortions, once age, sex and religion are controlled for. Also, we predicted that students would be more willing to perform medical abortions than surgical abortions, because medical abortions are limited to first-trimester terminations of pregnancy.
Abortion Training in U.S. Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs, 1998
Family Planning Perspectives, 2000
Context: Since the late 1970s, the number of obstetrics and gynecology residency programs providing abortion training in the United States has steadily decreased. Given the documented shortage of abortion providers, assessing and ensuring the availability of abortion training in graduate medical education is critical. Methods: In 1998, the National Abortion Federation surveyed the 261 accredited U.S. residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, and analyzed the availability of first- and second-trimester abortion training. Results: Of the 179 programs that responded to the survey, 81% reported that they offer first-trimester abortion training—46% routinely and 34% as an elective. Seventy-four percent of programs offer second-trimester training—44% routinely and 29% as an elective. Some programs that do not offer training give residents the option of obtaining it elsewhere. While 26% of programs indicated that all residents in their programs receive abortion training, 40% said that fewer than half are trained, including 14% that train no residents. The operating room is the most common training site: Fifty-nine percent of programs reported that abortion training takes place in the operating room. Conclusions: After a decades-long decline in the availability of abortion training, opportunities for abortion training have increased. However, there is reason to be cautious in interpreting these results, including possible response bias and pressure to report the availability of abortion training because of new guidelines from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Contraception, 2009
A hopeful note in the contemporary abortion environment in the United States is the expanding role of advanced practice clinicians -nurse practitioners, physician assistants and nursemidwives -in first trimester abortion provision. A large percentage of primary health care in the US is currently provided by these non-physicians but their involvement in abortion care is promising, especially in light of the shortage of physician providers. Two national symposia in 1990 and 1996 approved the expansion of early abortion care to non-physicians. As of January 2004, trained advanced practice clinicians were providing medical, and in some cases, early surgical abortion in 14 states. This has required not only medical training but also political organising to achieve the necessary legal and regulatory changes, state by state, by groups such as Clinicians for Choice and the Abortion Access Project, described here in examples in two states and the reflections of three advanced practice clinicians. Recent surveys in three states show a substantial interest among advanced practice clinicians in abortion training, leading to cautious optimism about the possibility of increased abortion access for women. Most encouraging, advanced practice clinicians, like their physician counterparts, show a level of passionate commitment to the work that is rare elsewhere in health care in the US today. A 2004 Reproductive Health Matters. All rights reserved.