OBGYN Association Issues Dire Warning On The Potential Effects Of A Proposed National Abortion Ban

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) sent a letter to the White House on September 22, outlining its concerns about a proposed nationwide abortion ban, which aims to make nearly all abortions illegal after 15 weeks of gestation (via Associated Press). According to the ACOG, such a restrictive ban could have devastating consequences for both physicians and those seeking abortions.

Introduced earlier this month, the proposed bill is intended to ban so-called late-term abortions — a term that has no scientific meaning or medical significance. As the ACOG notes, a 15-week national abortion ban could endanger the lives of many pregnant people across the country, especially if they experience serious medical complications during pregnancy. In these cases, being forced to carry a pregnancy to term could be life-threatening (via Self). Abortions, on the other hand, are generally safe and do not pose a significant threat to the life and well-being of the pregnant patient.

In addition to the misleading language used in the bill and the potential risks it poses to pregnant Americans, the ACOG also takes issue with the "arbitrary gestational age limit" of 15 weeks. According to the organization, there is no scientific or medical basis for this particular restriction (via Associated Press). In fact, the ACOG argues that limiting abortions to just 15 weeks of gestation would "dramatically interfere with the ability of patients to receive timely medical care, including prenatal care, miscarriage management, and abortion care." As a result, this could very well worsen the maternal mortality crisis in the U.S., which is already high and largely preventable.

The White House also voiced its concerns about the proposed national abortion ban, claiming that the bill could lead to a nationwide health crisis. While the legislation has no chance of passing under current congressional leadership, this may change depending on the outcome of the upcoming midterm elections. If passed, the bill would not only outlaw most abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, but it would also criminalize doctors for providing them and for performing miscarriage care.