Introduction

On June 24th, 2022, Roe v. Wade was formally overturned, a shift predicted to result in 26 states restricting access to abortion care.1 In addition to harming patients, limiting access to abortion care also affects medical training and physicians themselves. Over 10% of physicians who have been pregnant or whose partners have been pregnant have had at least one abortion.2 Medical societies often leverage their power to advocate for policies to improve the health and welfare of patients. This study aims to describe which medical societies made a public statement on abortion access in the 2 weeks following the leaked Supreme Court opinion and again after the final SCOTUS decision.

Methods

Study authors (ML, SF) reviewed websites and social media of medical societies to determine whether they made statements on abortion, the time in days from leak or decision to statement, and whether statements contained the word “abortion.” The study included 187 US-based medical societies from the AMA House of Delegates,3 Council of Medical Specialty Societies,4 Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and AAMC Council for Academic Specialty Societies5 as well as the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine and the Society of Family Planning. Statements made in the 2 weeks post-leak (May 2–16) and 2 weeks post-SCOTUS decision (June 24–July 8) were included. Societies that issued individual statements and those that signed collective statements were included. Groups were compared using a 2 sample test of proportions in SPSS Version 28.

Results

Only 9.1% (n=17) of societies made a statement about abortion access in the 2 weeks following the leaked draft opinion (Fig. 1; Table 1). The average time from leak to statement was 2.4 days (SD=2.9). Most statements (82.4%, (n=14)) used the word “abortion,” instead of vague terms such as “reproductive healthcare.”

Figure 1
figure 1

Medical societies that made a statement on abortion rights at time of leaked draft opinion and after SCOTUS decision. Proportion of US-based medical societies that made a statement within 2 weeks of the leaked draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade compared to those that made a statement after the SCOTUS ruling. This difference is statistically significant by a 2-sample test of proportions (z = −6.68, p < .00001).

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Table 1 Societies that Made Statements About Abortion Within 2 Weeks of the Leaked Draft Opinion to Overturn Roe v. Wade (n=17) vs. After the SCOTUS Decision (n=72)
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In the 2 weeks following the SCOTUS decision, 38.5% (n=72) of societies made a statement (Fig. 1; Table 1). Of those, 33.3% (n=24 of the 72) only joined collective statements. The average time from decision to statement was 2.4 days (SD=4.0). Many statements (54.9%, (n=39)) used the word “abortion.” Significantly more societies made a statement in the 2 weeks following the SCOTUS decision (z = −6.68, p < .00001). Of Ob/Gyn societies, 60% (n=6) made a statement on abortion at the time of the leaked draft opinion, and 100% (n=10) made a statement after the SCOTUS decision.

Discussion

In the 2 weeks following the majority draft opinion threatening to strike down Roe v Wade, when statements would likely have had maximal impact, few medical societies published a statement affirming their commitment to abortion access. In contrast, societies were greater than three times more likely to publish statements following the SCOTUS decision. Although significantly more societies spoke up once Roe v. Wade was officially overturned, the majority (over 60%) remained silent. This is despite the fact that the fall of Roe represents a significant public health crisis, with demographers estimating an increase in maternal mortality by 21% nationwide and 33% among Black patients.6

Physicians of all specialties may be impacted by abortion bans. Emergency room and ICU physicians may need to manage complications of more unsafe abortions.1 Pediatricians may care for more complex patients when parents are unable to terminate a pregnancy for a fetal anomaly.1 Mental healthcare providers will likely see an increase in pregnant patients who do not wish to be pregnant, including survivors of sexual assault.1 Without access, physicians and trainees who seek abortion care, like all other residents in states where abortion restrictions are in place, may have to leave their state to receive the care they need.

US medical societies have a responsibility to advocate for equitable healthcare. Specialty societies’ statements signify a powerful collective action to influence policymakers. In addition to statements, medical societies could consider relocating meetings in states that have outlawed abortion, just as ACOG chose to leave Louisiana. Unfortunately, many societies have missed the opportunity to influence policymakers and stand in solidarity with our patients and colleagues. Medical societies that fail to recognize and acknowledge their duty to advocate for preserving abortion access are disappointing the patients and professionals they serve.