The American Medical Association
Many states are now seeking to enact laws to protect the health of women in the manner allowed by these High Court decisions. The AMA, however, has and continues to oppose these and any other regulations on abortion.
- The AMA is committed to convincing the public, and its own members, that abortion is still safe.
- "There is no evidence" of post-abortion trauma, and post-abortion trauma "does not exist." ( "The Myth of Abortion Trauma Syndrome," -Stotland, [JAMA, Oct. 21, 1992] )
- Stotland's thesis statements are inconsistent with the evidence as she dismissed a study that found 11% of women reported adverse psychological effects six months after their abortions.
- Another study stated that 64% of the abortion patients studied should have been referred for more extensive counseling.
- Another report repeated the discredited propaganda claim that prior to 1973 there were 1 million illegal abortions per year.
- The actual rate of illegal abortions prior to Roe was within the range of 100,000 to 200,000 per year.
An Amicus Curiae Brief is what is commonly referred to as a "friend of the Court brief." It is intended to offer the Court the views of a non-party regarding the issue or issues pending before the Court.In recent years the Supreme Court has begun to recognize that abortion involves other non-fatal risks, such as reproductive damage and psychological sequelae.
Acknowledgment of these risks has played an important role in recent Court rulings which allow parental notification, waiting periods, and state established informed consent standards for abortion. Many states are now seeking to enact laws to protect the health of women in the manner allowed by these High Court decisions.
The AMA, however, has and continues to officially oppose these and any other regulations on abortion. The AMA is going to what some call "extraordinary" lengths to convince the public, and its own members, that abortion is still safe. An important aspect of this campaign includes publications in the AMA's prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association, otherwise known as JAMA. Two examples of this occurred in the last three months of 1992.
Denial of Post-Abortion Trauma
Lask's study
reports that 32% of those studied, one of every three
abortion patients, had an "unfavorable" outcome to the abortion.
Belsey's main finding is that 49% of the group (still a minority) had
experienced one or more maladjustments within 3 months after the abortion. Most
importantly, Belsey found that the women most at risk of experiencing negative
reactions could be pre-identified during pre-abortion screening. abortion patients, had an "unfavorable" outcome to the abortion.
Belsey summarized these high-risk screening criteria as: 1) a history of psychosocial instability, 2) a poor or unstable relationship with her partner, 3) few friends, 4) a poor work pattern, or 5) failure to take contraceptive precautions.
Using these factors, Belsey identified 64% of the abortion patients she studied should have been referred for more extensive counseling. Of this high risk group, 72% actually did develop negative post-abortion reactions, compared to the low risk group of whom 28% experienced one or more maladjustments.
Post-Abortion Psychosis
There is a growing concern among abortion rights activists that the view of
abortions being ?safe' is being eroded.
The Council Report also uncritically accepts the claim that maternal deaths from legal abortion have been accurately tabulated by the Center for Disease Control. This blind acceptance of official CDC data ignores the testimony of former abortionists who admit covering up of abortion related deaths,(10) and the testimony of pro-life investigators. abortions being ?safe' is being eroded.
One such investigator reviewed death certificates in Los Angeles County where the cause of death was listed as "therapeutic misadventure" and found incontrovertible evidence of four abortion deaths during only a twelve month period.
The NAF, supplies an estimate of
one complication per 1000 abortions via a memo between the two advocacy groups.
But even here we have contradictions.
One is left to wonder how the NAF has compiled these undocumented statistics,
especially given the evidence that most injured women go to someone other than
the abortionist for treatment.one complication per 1000 abortions via a memo between the two advocacy groups.
But even here we have contradictions.
Reardon comments that asking the NAF for complication rates is like asking the American Tobacco Association for their estimate of the health impact of smoking and remarks that the Council Report is convincing only if nobody reviews the original sources.
George D. Lundberg, MD, former editor of JAMA stated that "JAMA is, among other things, a forum for open discussion of matters relevant to the field of medicine, a place for responsible, balanced debate for the education of readers, primarily physicians, to help meet the overall mission of advancing the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health...
Although admitting that abortion was on the journal's "don't touch" list. Lundberg wrote:
"Few subjects boil the blood of people in general, and some physicians in
particular, as rapidly and surely as does abortion."
"Few subjects boil the blood of people in general, and some physicians in
particular, as rapidly and surely as does abortion. JAMA has published many
articles about abortion including articles about science,5 methods,6, 7 clinical practice,8, 9 research,10, 11 hazards,12 ethics,13, 14 law,15 public opinion,16 international aspects,17 AMA positions,18 and special considerations for physicians.19, 20 But, during my tenure as editor, JAMA has taken no editorial position on abortion, late-term or otherwise."particular, as rapidly and surely as does abortion."
Lundberg states that he has never performed an abortion and cannot imagine ever doing so because he regards "...abortion is killing, regardless of length or stage of gestation."
He anticipated a flood of protests from many points of view on the issue. "Nonetheless, we believed it important for JAMA to serve again as a forum for responsible discussion and debate on even this troubling and divisive issue."
NOTES
1. Lask, "Short-term psychiatric sequelae to therapeutic termination of pregnancy," Br J Psychiatry. 1975; 126:173-177 (1975).2. Greer, Belsey, et al., "Psychosocial Consequences of Therapeutic Abortion: Kings Therapeutic Study III," Br. J. Psychiatry, 128:74-79 (1976); and Belsey, Greer, et al., "Predictive Factors in Emotional Response to Abortion: King's Termination Study - IV," Soc. Sci. & Med. 11:71-82 (1977).
3. Brewer, "Incidence of post-abortion psychosis: A Prospective Study," British Med. J., 1:467-477 (1977).
4. Rogers, et al., "Validity of Existing Controlled Studies Examining the Psychological Effects of Abortion," Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 39(1):20-30 (1987).
5. David, et al., "Postpartum and Postabortion Psychotic Reactions," Family Planning Perspectives 13:88-91 (1981).
6. Council on Scientific Affairs, Council Report, "Induced Termination of Pregnancy Before and After Roe v. Wade: Trends in the Mortality and Morbidity of Women," JAMA 268(22):3231-3239 (1992).
7. Grisez, Abortion: The Myths, the Realities, and the Arguments (New York: Corpus Books, 1970) 35-42.
8. Hilgers & O'Hare, "Abortion-Related Maternal mortality: An In-Depth Analysis," New Perspectives on Human Abortion, Hilgers, et al., eds. (Frederick MD: University Publications of America, 1981) 69-91.
9. Reardon, Aborted Women - Silent No More (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1987) 287-291.
10. Everett, The Scarlet Lady: Confessions of a Successful Abortionist (Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Brentwood, TN, 1991).
11. Feminists for Life amicus curiae brief to the United States Supreme Court, Webster v. Reproductive Health, October Term 1988, p21-22 with supporting documents filed.
12. Cates, et al., "Assessment of Surveillance and Vital Statistics Data for Monitoring Abortion Mortality, United States, 1972-1975," Am J Epidemiology 108:200-206.
13. Sekar and Deming, "On a Method of Estimating Birth and Death Rates and the Extent of Registration," American Statistical Association Journal, March 1949; Vol 44 pp 101-115.
14. Strahan, "Women's Health and Abortion II - Risk of Premature Death in Women From Induced Abortion: Preliminary Findings," Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change Newsletter, 5(2) 1993, available from NRL Educational Trust Fund, 419 7th St. NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20004 (202) 626-8800.
Sources: Elliot Institute and JAMA