of Ethics Online Collection:None
American Public Health
Association Policy Statement November 7, 1979
7907: The Right to Second Trimester Abortion
The American Public Health Association,
Recognizing that it has consistently advocated women's right
to abortion (Resolution #7626), physicians' freedom to perform
abortion, and state legislation for legal abortion (#6718);
and has urged the removal of state statutes restricting abortion
(#7118), and supported the inclusion of abortion in public
funding (#7025); and
Acknowledging that although the United States Supreme Court
has recognized women's right to abortion to the point of viability
in the 1973 Doe vs. Wade decision, anti-abortion groups are
harassing women seeking abortions as well as abortion providers
across the country, and are creating immense pressure on physicians
who perform later abortion procedures; and
Noting that only 9 per cent of legal abortions are performed
in the second trimester of pregnancy; that greater use of
the Dilatation and Evacuation procedure makes it possible
to perform the vast majority of second trimester abortions
during or prior to the 16th week after the last menstrual
period (LMP), which is the 14th week of pregnancy; I and that
most women who seek abortions after the 16th week LMP are
facing severe social and health circumstances, such as pregnancy
at a very young age or involving a fetus with known serious
congenital abnormalities or disease; and
Noting that through curtailment of funding at both the federal
and state levels, poor women have seen their right to abortion
erode; therefore
1. Renews its support of women's right to abortion up to and
including to the point of viability;
2. Urges strong opposition to local and state proposed or
enacted ordinances which present misleading and nonfactual
information which may be perceived to frighten and harass
women who choose abortion and health care providers performing
these abortions;
3. Urges endorsement of educational programs which train physicians
and health care personnel to provide safe later abortion techniques
of Dilatation and Evacuation and saline infusion; and
4. Urges endorsement of the provision of second trimester
abortion in free-standing qualified clinics that meet the
state standards required for certifications.
Reference
1. Grimes DA, et al: Mid-trimester abortion by dilatation
and evacuation: a safe and practical alternative. N Engl J
Med 296;
1141-1145,1977.
