New OB-GYN Policy Stirs Debate and (surprise!) Bush Administration Action

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has tried to set professional guidelines that would require an ob-gyn who refuses to perform an abortion or give Emergency Contraception (EC: a heavy dose of birth control — NOT an abortion pill, contrary to anti-choice reports) to refer the patient to another ob-gyn. The Bush administration claims this runs against Conscience Laws which permit a doctor to refuse to perform an abortion if it goes against his religious/moral backbone.

See the NPR story for full details.

This does raise an interesting question regarding the conflict of personal morality and the duty of a doctor towards his or her patient. I think it scandalous that EC would be wrapped into this distinction, as it is just a form of birth control, administered within 72 hours after the act.

If we accept, however, that an Ob-Gyn has the right to refuse to perform an abortion (though this standard is applied to no other realm of the medical field and we would all be shocked by a doctor refusing to perform back surgery…), I do not see how we can accept an ob-gyn who refuses to refer a patient. Many places do not have the resources of New York City, which means that this inordinately affects women living in poorer, more rural areas, who may not know of any option beyond their current Ob-Gyn. A cogent remark from ob-gyn Wendy Chavkin of Columbia University, discussing a case where a woman has been raped and goes to the only health care facility in her area:

“And she comes upon some doctor who thinks that emergency contraception is the equivalent of abortion, which is incorrect, but nonetheless what this individual believes,” Chavin says. “What this ACOG statement is saying is she should not be deprived of something that’s needed right away to take care of her emergency situation.”

Yes, we have freedom of thought in this country, and I won’t question the right of a person to believe that abortion is wrong and to make the decision (if a woman) to not have an abortion oneself. But these beliefs should not be placed onto another’s situation, particularly if one is a member of the medical profession whose first duty is to protect the health and well-being of the patient.