My friend Dr. Warren Hern, an abortion doctor in Boulder Colorado, was just recently dropped from a panel at a scientific convention where he was slated to discuss potential complications that doctors might have to deal with in hospitals and emergency rooms related to the many laws restricting abortion throughout the country. 14 states have already banned abortion outright, and other states have enacted draconian abortion restrictions that also affect women with wanted pregnancies. Women with pregnancy complications are ending up in Emergency Rooms with life threatening complications that doctors are reluctant to handle because of local abortion restrictions. Dr. Hern’s talk was meant to educate them on the options for saving lives in spite of these restrictions. With his permission, i’m relaying the following;
For Immediate Release: 24 October 2023
ABORTION SPECIALIST DROPPED FROM PANEL AT AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS CONGRESS FOR REASONS OF “SECURITY.”
DOCTOR CALLS IT “CENSORSHIP”.
In May, 2023, Dr. Hern was invited to participate in a panel discussion entitled “What Every Surgeon Needs to Know: Management of Post-Roe Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies” at 4:15 PM on October 24, 2023 at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress to be held at the Boston Convention Center. Dr Hern has specialized in women’s health care since 1970 and in abortion services since 1973. He was invited to speak on this subject by 2 Fellows of ACS and professors of surgery, who are trying to help their surgical colleagues understand the potential surgical and medical consequences of the 2022 Dobbs decision overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal throughout the United States.
The sudden decision to exclude Dr. Hern from this panel discussion was made by the executive leadership of the American College of Surgeons over the objections of the inviting doctors just before the beginning of the Congress. Although specific reasons for this exclusion were not given to Dr. Hern or the physicians who invited him, it appeared that the reason was the fear of anti-abortion violence, security risks that accompanied Dr. Hern’s presence and liability risks for the ACS. Dr. Hern offered to pay for all security costs of his appearance on the program.
"It reeks of censorship," says Dr. Hern. "It appears the ACA is more interested in having a controversy-free gathering than taking on the difficult issues for women’s health care that are only intensifying in the post-Roe era.” Dr. Hern prepared a slide program for presentation at the meeting (content abstracted below).
Dr. Hern and his medical colleagues have been the targets of widespread anti-abortion political violence that includes the assassinations of five physicians who performed abortions, Dr. George Tiller among them, and assassinations of numerous other abortion clinic workers. On December 30, 1994, John Salvi assassinated two abortion clinic workers in Brookline and Boston, Massachusetts, and injured three others.
The Executive Director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons is Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS. executive.director@facs.org
Warren M. Hern, M.D.,M.P.H., Ph.D.
303 447-1361 bachern@msn.com
Director, Boulder Abortion Clinic, P.C.
Associate Clinical Professor, Dept of OB/GYN
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Author, Abortion Practice (1984)
Every day throughout the United States doctors are confronted with difficult medical choices in dealing with pregnancy complications in light of anti-abortion laws. These laws are often very vague and some include jail consequences, hefty fines and loss of a doctor’s medical license. It is therefore essential that doctors are educated on their options.
So far, several women who have been denied life-saving care in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and emergency rooms have sued.
Women with serious pregnancy complicationd sue over state abortion bans
More women join lawsuit against Texas after being denied abortion care to treat dangerous pregnancy complications
Dr. Hern’s presentation was slated to include the following;
Slides prepared by Dr. Hern for presentation on October 24 2023 at ACS meeting before appearance canceled by ACS executive staff
What Every Surgeon Needs to Know: Management of Post-Roe Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergencies
Pre – Dobbs (2022)
Basic principles of medical practice as applied to abortion services
- Communication with patient and her family and understanding of her needs
- Adherence to best standards of medical and surgical practice
- Continuity of care
Medical accountability
Pre –Dobbs (2022)
Basic principles of surgery
Pre –Dobbs (2022)
Application of principles of surgery
- Good routine communications with physicians, patients and referral agencies
- Good back-up for treatment of complications
- Routine follow-up appointments without difficulty
Pre –Dobbs (2022)
Application of principles of surgery
Outcome variables known
- Blood loss, procedure time
- Confirmation of completion of procedure
- Empty uterus,absence of retained tissue
- Lab results(pre-op and post-opHgb)
Pre –Dobbs (2022)
Application of principles of surgery
Routine prompt treatment of other pregnancy complications
- Premature rupture of membranes at any stage of pregnancy
- Spontaneous fetal demise
- Retained tissue following miscarriage
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-Dobbs, Post-Roe
Abortion is now illegal or essentially illegal in 50% of all American states.
Women may no longer get early, safe surgical abortion in most states.
Post-Dobbs, Post-Roe
Women must travel hundreds or thousands of miles to have a safe abortion - $$$$
Medication”abortion has replaced complete surgical abortion in 50% of all first trimester abortions
Post-Dobbs, Post-Roe
None of the basic principles of medical practice and surgery may be applied to the medical care of women in U.S. states where abortion is illegal.
Post-Dobbs, Post-Roe
obstetric, gynecologic and surgical emergencies, treatment prohibited
- Failed, incomplete “medication” abortion resulting in hemorrhage, continued pregnancy treatment prohibited
- Spontaneous premature rupture of membranes early in pregnancy (16 – 22 weeks) treatment prohibited
Post-Dobbs, Post-Roe
obstetric, gynecologic and surgical emergencies, treatment prohibited
- Hemorrhage due to low-lying placenta or placenta previa treatment prohibited
- Ectopic pregnancy treatment prohibited
- Placental abruption treatment prohibited
Post-Dobbs, Post-Roe
obstetric, gynecologic and surgical emergencies, treatment prohibited
- Termination of pregnancy with catastrophic fetal abnormalities or genetic disorder (including malignant maternal hypertension with Trisomy 13) treatment prohibited
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome treatment prohibited
The basic tenets of the successful fifty-year movement that overturned the Roe v. Wade decision and is determined to make abortion illegal throughout the United States are in complete, irreconcilable conflict with the basic principles of medical practice, surgical practice, and science. Under these conditions, reproductive health care for women is roadkill/ collateral damage. Women in half of American states already face these conditions and cannot receive modern health care in their own states.
What can surgeons do?
-
Basic life support and appropriate treatment for hemorrhage, sepsis, amniotic fluid embolism, shock until appropriate medical care is legally available or until the patient dies
-
Advise the patient and/or patient’s family to take her to a state where it is legal to provide medical care for women as quickly as possible
What can surgeons do?
- Advise your political representatives at all levels (local, state, federal) that any law restricting abortion is dangerous and potentially fatal for women
- Move to a state where it is legal to provide medical care for women
What can surgeons do?
- Learn to perform abortions from someone who is an expert in this field of medical practice
- Perform abortions for women who need them
What can women do?
If you are a woman, vote as if your life depends on it (it does)
If you are not a woman, vote as if the life of every woman you know and love depends on it (it does)
To repeat, VOTE as if your life depends on it. For it does.