AAPLOG Statement on ACOG Abortion Agenda During COVID-19 Pandemic

In such an uncertain and tumultuous time, the entire healthcare profession is being called upon to conserve resources and healthcare professionals to an extent never seen before. And yet, in the midst of this call, where hospitals are postponing elective procedures and many outpatient clinics are rescheduling non-essential office visits, the abortion industry continues with business as usual. What’s worse, some major medical organizations, like the American College of OB/GYN’s (ACOG), are supporting them in this. ACOG, in a recent joint statement with several other traditionally pro-abortion medical organizations, claimed that “abortion is an essential component of comprehensive health care” for women.

ACOG does not represent its membership in this claim, since more than 85% of OB/GYN’s do not perform abortions. If abortion was an “essential component” of women’s health care, it would be a part of most, if not all, of our practices. Services that are, in fact, part of essential care for women, such as cervical cancer screening, screening mammograms, and screening pelvic exams, are being postponed across this country as many offices reschedule non-urgent appointments in order to reduce their patients’ risk of exposure to COVID-19 and to conserve scarce medical resources.

AAPLOG’s Board Chair, Dr. Christina Francis, recently covered ACOG’s transformation into a politicized pro-abortion organization in a Wall Street Journal op-ed this month. What we’re seeing now is more of the same. Continuing to perform elective abortions during a pandemic is medically irresponsible. Abortions use up much needed resources such as masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment. The practice also potentially generates more patients to be seen in already overburdened emergency rooms. Approximately 5% of women who undergo medication abortions will require evaluation in the hospital, most commonly for hemorrhage. Uterine perforation and hemorrhage can occur with surgical abortions. Because most abortion providers do not manage their own complications, instead instructing women to go to an ER if they have problems, emergency rooms who are already struggling to keep up with the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to need to provide care to these women. Our nation faces a critical blood shortage during this time, which will also negatively impact women’s health who experience abortion-related hemorrhage.

Elective abortions offer zero health benefits to women and do not treat a disease process. The American Association of Prolife OB/GYN’s calls for abortions to be suspended according to the current recommendations pertaining to elective procedures and office visits.