Today, Ohio Right to Life and a coalition of medical associations urged the American Academy of Pediatrics to rescind its recent statement reaffirming abortion as a “right” of adolescents. The Academy released its statement last week, along with a sharp critique of parental consent and notification laws. In a subsequent interview, supporters of the statement called abortion a “core value” of pediatricians. In an open letter to the Academy, Ohio Right to Life and a number of medical associations discuss the psychological, health and safety risks of abortion, pointing out that a vast majority of Americans (71 percent) support parental consent laws.
“The Academy’s recent statement is in clear conflict with its mission to protect the health and well-being of young children,” said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. “In a sad twist, the Academy in fact harms children twice: First, the teen seeking the abortion; and second, the child who is the target of abortion. The statement appears to be first and foremost that of a political agenda rather than medical science.”
Medical and bioethics associations joining Ohio Right to Life’s letter include the American College of Pediatricians, the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, the National Catholic Bioethics Center, the Center for Bioethics at Cedarville University, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Catholic Medical Association.
“Sadly, the American Academy of Pediatrics is just one of multiple mainstream medical associations that have been overrun by abortion advocates,” said Gonidakis. “The truth is that the modern-day American medical profession was founded with the intent of stamping out harmful practices like abortion—practices that contradict the physician’s duty to ‘First, do no harm.’ If the American Academy of Pediatrics is to honor that legacy and truly dedicate themselves to the health of all children, they will rescind this horrific polemic in favor of sound medical science.”
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Click here to read Ohio Right to Life’s open letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Click here to read The American Academy of Pediatrics’ statement.
