Media Center: Press Release

Convoluted Legislation Threatens the Health of Young Women
03/03/2005

Warren Seigel, MD, FAAP, FSAM, testifies before Subcommittee on the Constitution of the U.S. House of Representatives stressing dangers posed by the onerous Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

New York—Warren Seigel, MD, speaks today before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on the Constitution in strong opposition to H.R. 748, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA). CIANA constructs insurmountable obstacles for young women seeking abortion services putting their lives and health at risk. This legislation makes criminals out of caring physicians as they provide the best evidence-based health care possible to their patients. It is clear that H.R. 748 serves not as a conduit to protect young women but as a political tool to prevent access to abortion services.

Dr. Seigel stated, "As a physician, I always encourage young women to involve a trusted adult in their decision to have an abortion—and the overwhelming majority of my young patients do involve their parents. Those who are unable to do so have good reason; the threat of physical or emotional abuse upon disclosure, or their pregnancy is a result of incest. The government can not mandate healthy family communication and it is extremely harmful to the health of young women when they attempt to do so.

"This burdensome and purposefully confusing legislation will decrease the ability of physicians to provide quality care to all of their patients, and will likely decrease the number of young women who seek care. Unable to approach their parents or even a trusted health care provider, some young women will be left in the precarious position of having nowhere to turn.

"Simply put, H.R. 748 is bad medicine. It places politics before the well-being of our youth. Practicing physicians, leading medical organizations and scientific evidence agree that this will negatively impact the health of young women and will likely yield consequences opposite of its supposed intention. As a physician committed to promoting adolescent health, I strongly oppose this legislation."