Media Center: Press Release

"If a federal law can ban an abortion method—even in cases when a woman's health is at risk—what will be next? Will politicians be allowed to outlaw every medical procedure they personally oppose?"

New York, NY—Today, the Supreme Court upheld the first federal ban ever on a specific abortion method. In response to the ruling, Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health issued the following statement from board chair Wendy Chavkin, MD, MPH:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is not only a tremendous loss for women’s health, it also undermines the right of every American to make personal decisions about their healthcare. By allowing Congress to ban certain abortions, the Supreme Court has tied physicians’ hands and restricted our ability to protect our patients’ health.

“This ruling ignores expert testimony and the views of major medical associations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It is absurd to think that Congress knows more about medical safety than doctors, yet that is exactly what the Supreme Court has declared.

“Physicians treat each of our patients with caring and compassion, and we know that every woman has unique medical needs. An abortion method that works for one woman may not be the best or safest for another. Doctors are now barred from using certain abortion methods, even though they offer significant safety advantages to women.

“Our opponents don’t want to make abortion safer—they want to make it impossible. While they are cheering today’s decision, doctors like me are worried about the consequences for women’s health. I remember the women who suffered before abortion was legalized, and I fear that politicians will continue chipping away at the right to abortion until it disappears completely.

“This ruling is a clarion call to all Americans who believe politics has no place in the doctor’s office. If a federal law can ban an abortion method—even in cases when a woman’s health is at risk—what will be next? Will politicians be allowed to outlaw every medical procedure they personally oppose? It’s time for Americans to push back and demand that Congress stay out of our personal reproductive decisions.”

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