Most physicians have a certificate or two proudly displayed on the wall.
Soon, doctors may also be able to boast a subspecialty certificate in late-term abortion.
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology has just submitted an application to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), requesting a new certification category for late-term abortion.
The proposed “Complex Family Planning” certification will not only increase the number of board-certified physicians trained in second- and third-trimester abortions, but also the number of mothers obtaining late-term abortions. 30-40 residency programs are said to be interested in implementing the fellowship.
“Although contraception and abortion services for healthy women may be safely provided by general OB GYN clinicians,” the application reads, “subspecialists with special knowledge and skills are necessary for advanced gestations.” What does that special knowledge include, one might ask?
According to ABOG’s application, these subspecialists will demonstrate skill in both electric and manual uterine aspiration in first-trimester abortions. Surgical abortion and feticide procedures are the target areas of competency for second-trimester abortions. “Complex Family Planning” specialists will, predictably, focus their work in “low-resource settings and with vulnerable and underserved populations.”
Furthermore, the application states that doctors wishing to become late-term abortion certified must achieve not only advanced skill in removing a baby from the womb limb by limb, but also competency in public policy and advocacy. “Fellows should be capable of being advocates and leaders in family planning and abortion”, the application reads. Among other things, this aim is specifically set to include one of the radical left’s most sacred cows: the indoctrination of high school students.
If members of the progressive ABOG get their way, what ought to be an affront to best-practices in the area of obstetrics will be officially enshrined within the medical community and, subsequently, the culture at large.
Thankfully, it’s not going to happen without a fight from the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG).
The 4,000 member group of physicians, dedicated to promoting the sanctity of human life from the moment of fertilization, issued a press release on June 10, detailing the heinous things ABOG is hoping to accomplish. They are also filing comments with the American Board of Medical Specialties, voicing opposition to the new certification.
“Abortion is not healthcare,” declared Dr. Donna Harrison, who is the Executive Director of AAPLOG. “OB-GYNS are trained to preserve and protect the lives of their patients, not destroy them. Even in difficult circumstances, OB-GYNS practice compassionate, ethical care that cares for two patients – mother and child. Late-term abortions are never necessary. Thanks to incredible advances in medical care, even unborn children in the second-trimester are surviving early delivery in greater numbers than we’ve ever seen.”
In spite of an attempt by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology to show that a “Complex Family Planning” certification will encompass a wide swath of services related to women’s reproductive healthcare, the actual truth is much more sinister than that. According to Dr. Harrison, “The application includes areas in which OB-GYNS are already trained, like contraception, miscarriage management, family planning and management of complicated pregnancies. These agreeable areas in the application are simply a smokescreen; the focus is really to train doctors to destroy human life in second and third-trimester abortions.”
Dr. Harrison goes on to say that 85% of OB/GYNs do not presently perform abortions, proving that the development of this subspecialty is counter to the wishes of the vast majority of physicians themselves.
The United States is one of only seven countries in the world to permit elective abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy--this in spite of the fact that most Americans, when polled, actually oppose late-term abortion.
This proposed subspecialty is yet another turning point in the sad history of abortion in America. If the aggressive pro-abortion agenda is allowed to rule the day here, and the “Complex Family Planning” certification indeed becomes official, we can expect nothing less than the further normalization of the destruction of innocent, preborn life.