The head of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has called for unrestricted access to abortion, going against the group’s previous stance on burdensome regulations. Dr. Christopher M. Zahn, ACOG interim CEO, and Dr. Jenni Villavicencio, interim director of advocacy and public affairs for the Society for Family Planning, expressed their support for unrestricted access to abortion care. They believe that abortion is safe, improves and saves lives, and should be available without restrictions, limitations, or barriers, just like any other critical healthcare service.
Their announcement comes in response to a recent op-ed by GOP strategist Kellyanne Conway and pro-life advocate Marjorie Dannenfelser, who called on Republicans to take offensive action on abortion. In her response, Dannenfelser noted that “we finally hear the truth from the abortion lobby,” emphasizing that Americans overwhelmingly reject all-trimester abortions on demand.
ACOG, as the nation’s largest OBGYN professional membership association, has over 60,000 members. Dr. Zahn, who took over as interim CEO in May, supports ACOG’s position against legislation that unduly regulates or criminalizes abortion care providers. ACOG advocates against burdensome government regulations that hinder women’s access to evidence-based abortion care.
Dr. Ingrid Skop, a pro-life obstetrician practicing in Texas, criticized the stance of ACOG’s leadership and the medical community on unlimited abortion. She believes that ACOG’s promotion of elective abortion without limits does not reflect the views of their own members, as a significant percentage of obstetricians choose not to perform elective abortions.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022 has presented challenges for both political parties. While Democrats have called for a federal law guaranteeing reproductive freedom, they have remained largely silent on the issue of abortion limits.
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