Open Letter to the Editor

Dear Colleagues,

We read the series of OpEds in the ACMS Bulletin regarding abortion care with great interest. Unfortunately, they were presented on equal footing; one article espoused the scientifically informed opinion of the medical community and the other did not. This type of false equivalence undermines the widely held position of premier physician organizations in our country, that abortion is essential healthcare (see attached policy statements below). While we respect the opinions of our colleagues who themselves do not perform abortions, we stand ready to challenge them by all professional means, should they breach the standard of care leading to the death or harm of one of their patients.

Sincerely, Michael M Aziz, MD, MPH, FACOG James R. Latronica, DO, FASAM Jocelyn Fitzgerald, MD, FACOG, FPMRS Devon Ramaeker, MD, FACOG Marta C. Kolthoff MD, MA FACOG, FACMG Alexandra Plisko, MD, FACOG Carly Zuwiala, MD, FACOG Noah Rindos, MD, FACOG Christina Megli MD, PhD, FACOG Pnina Dean, MD Cynthia L Anderson, MD, FACOG, FABFM Lauren Giugale, MD, FACOG Grace Ferguson, MD, MPH, FACOG Jennifer Celebrezze MD, FACOG Tajh Ferguson, MD, FACOG Jay Idler, MD, FACOG

Policy statements by organization:

American Medical Association- https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/ama-holds-fast-principle-reproductive-care-health-care American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology- https://www.acog.org/clinical-information/policy-and-position-statements/statements-of-policy/2022/ abortion-policy Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine- https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/media/2418/Access_to_Abortion_Services_(2020).pdf American Academy of Family Physicians- https://www.aafp.org/about/policies/all/reproductive-maternity-health-services.html American Academy of Pediatrics- https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/aap/2022/aap-supports-adolescents-right-to-comprehensive-confidential-reproductive-health-care/