Moral distress in the wake of abortion restrictions in the USA

6 December 2023
Dr Jocelyn Wascher, Dr Katherine Rivlin, Dr Julie Chor
FIGO

Dr Julie Chor presented the topic of moral distress at the FIGO World Congress 2023 in Paris. Alongside her colleagues Dr Jocelyn Wascher and Dr Katherine Rivlin, she delves into this concept and shares the far-reaching consequences of restrictive abortion laws in the US.

“I’m not going home pregnant.” The patient sitting in front of us is determined, her composure masking the effort it took to overcome countless barriers to get here. We already know her story. We heard it from her doctor in another state, who was desperate to help this patient with a lethal foetal anomaly terminate her pregnancy. Meeting her, the injustice of the situation feels much more tangible—the added insult of the long drive to Illinois, the impersonal hotel, and the distance from her support network, the mounting costs, compounding her already heart-rending situation. We also imagine the frustration, guilt, and distress her doctor must feel, emailing and calling multiple hospitals and clinics to get her to the care that they were now forbidden to provide, despite years of training and skills.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/moral-distress-wake-abortion-restrictions-usa

06.12.2023

Andrew Jameton

conscientious commitment

lethal fetal anomalies

moral distress over abortion restrictions

positive claims of conscience

From ‘Conscientious Objection’ to ‘Conscientiously Committed’ – How OBGYNS can advocate for bodily autonomy in access to safe abortion

1 September 2021
FIGO - Advocating for Safe Abortion Project, Committee on Safe Abortion

In this FIGO Long Read, we provide a round-up of a recent roundtable discussion hosted by FIGO's Advocating for Safe Abortion Project (ASAP) and Committee on Safe Abortion. Together with partners, we explored the critical issue of conscientious objection and its impact on the availability of and access to legal and safe abortion services.

Quote by Laura Gil: Sadly ‘conscientious objection’ has become a widespread barrier for many people to access the care that they need. It is very common to hear that women or girls cannot get an abortion on time, got an unsafe abortion, or didn't get one at all because of ‘conscientious objection‘ from the available personnel.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/conscientious-objection-conscientiously-committed-how-obgyns-can-advocate-bodily-autonomy

USA – For Doctors Who Want To Provide Abortions, Employment Contracts Often Tie Their Hands

For Doctors Who Want To Provide Abortions, Employment Contracts Often Tie Their Hands

November 26, 2018
Mara Gordon

Doctors who are opposed to abortions don't have to provide them. Since the 1970s, a series of federal rules have provided clinicians with "conscience protections" that help them keep their jobs if they don't want to perform or assist with the procedure.

Religious hospitals are also protected. Catholic health care systems, for example, are protected if they choose not to provide abortions or sterilizations. Doctors who work for religious hospitals usually sign contracts that they'll uphold religious values in their work.

Continued: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/26/668347657/for-doctors-who-want-to-provide-abortions-employment-contracts-often-tie-their-h

Removing shackles of abortion restrictions in Ireland

Removing shackles of abortion restrictions in Ireland

July 18, 2018

The landslide victory of the Yes campaign in the May 2018 referendum paves the way for an end to decades of harms caused by the abortion ban (the 8th amendment) of the Irish Constitution.

Inserted in 1983, this provision prevented legal abortion in all cases except risk to a pregnant woman’s life. It has forced thousands of women and girls to leave Ireland to access care, to undergo illegal abortions or to continue pregnancy against their will.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/removing-shackles-abortion-restrictions-ireland