The NCMS Policy Committee and NCMS Ethical & Judicial Affairs Committee convened a joint subcommittee to develop a thorough draft policy addressing access to reproductive health care.
The committees invite NCMS members and stakeholders to review the “Access to Comprehensive Reproductive Health Care” draft policy and share their feedback by clicking HERE.
You may also reference existing NCMS policies related to the draft policy by clicking the title links below:
- Abortion
- Access to Care and Social Supports for All Populations
- Education and Emergency Contraception
- Criminalization of Medical Acts
- Health Equity
- Maternal and Infant Health
- National CLAS Standards
- Preconception and Reproductive Health Education to Women and Men
- Physicians’ Role as Patient Advocates
The resolution on abortion is in direct opposition to numerous NC statues that have been in place for years without problems. Does anyone really believe that those statues will be reversed? I would suggest that NCMS try to craft a bipartisan compromise on abortion limits that would attract both parties. For example a ban at the end of 1st trimester and what exceptions would be thereafter. The current statement is one sided and in the end opposes any restrictions to abortion.
As a (now-retired) small-town generalist with a huge, far-reaching practice, I would have agreed 100% with the tenets in the Abortion section of the Policy Draft. I also agree with the other points in the Policy. The one thing that I don’t see covered (maybe I missed it) is the provision of prescription-covered birth control to minors without parental permission. That came up fairly often in actual practice–occasionally with the threat of legal action on the part of an angry parent.
I agree with the comments of John Thorp as shown on this web page. I do not agree with the draft opinion that parents need not be notified in the case of minors. Finally, I am not convinced that the Medical Society should even attempt to create and present a unified statement and viewpoint on this issue. Viewpoints among all physicians are certainly not unified and will not become unified by this effort. What purpose is served? Shall we next present a unified NCMS statement that UNC is good and Duke is bad (or via versa)?
I would also echo the comments regarding issues that I have in not being able to notify and involve the parents of their minor of the pregnancy without the minor’s consent. I feel this is wrong – we are trusting the physician to help navigate this situation that is fraught with not only serious medical health issues but real long term psychosocial implications, but can’t trust them with making the right choice regarding involving potentially the best support this young girl might have? I understand there are some cases where that might be counterproductive, but I would argue those are few and far between and we should let her physician be part of that decision-making
I appreciate this policy on reproductive rights and applaud those who crafted it. Thank you!