New Congressional Report Documents the Harms of Abortion Bans on Ob-Gyn Training

The following is a statement from Stella Dantas, MD, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists:

"It is no secret that the abortion bans in place since the catastrophic decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization have led to widespread harm for clinicians, their patients, and the communities in which they live. The new report from House Committee on Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr on the experiences of ob-gyn residency program directors and ob-gyn residents details in clear relief the ways in which the same abortion bans are wreaking havoc when it comes to critical medical training for the next generation of physicians.

"Abortion training is a key part of ob-gyn training because abortion care intersects with so much of ob-gyn care; the clinical abilities and the patient counseling skills that result from abortion training give trainees the tools they need to be better doctors. Prohibiting trainees from learning critical abortion care skills interferes with their ability to learn how to be fully qualified ob-gyns.

"However, that is not to say that tomorrow's ob-gyns will lack the skills they need. The committee report makes clear that ob-gyn program directors are doing everything they can to help prepare their residents within the confines of the law. From remote training programs such as the Patient-Centered Abortion Care Education Curriculum to helping residents access in-person family planning training at programs in protected states, our ob-gyn educators continue to seek and identify innovative ways to connect their trainees with the knowledge, abilities, and resources they need for comprehensive education.

"It should go without saying that having to navigate a legal minefield to provide ob-gyns with critical knowledge and training should not be necessary. Residency program directors should be able to focus their energy on preparing tomorrow's ob-gyns with the skills they need to embark on successful careers in an incredibly complex, rewarding field instead of navigating legal intricacies that could expose them, their trainees, and their programs to significant risk. They should be able to build curricula that reflect the full recommendations of the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology without concern about what the law in their state prohibits.

"Tomorrow's ob-gyns will be best prepared for successful careers if they are able to practice without the ongoing threat of legislative interference and criminalization for providing evidence-based care."