Women's Health Policy in the United States
Authors: Paul M. Shaniuk
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2019)

Letters19 February 2019Women's Health Policy in the United StatesPaul M. Shaniuk, MDPaul M. Shaniuk, MDLouis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio (P.M.S.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L18-0626 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The American College of Physicians (ACP) position paper on women's health policy (1) highlights many important issues. Nevertheless, recommendations 3 and 4, which discuss abortion and the standards of abortion centers, mar this paper greatly. Policies should promote the best interests of all patients; in the case of pregnancy, 2 patients exist. Both science and the law affirm the basic humanity of a fetus. Any student of basic embryology understands the scientific argument; however, legal arguments also exist, as evidenced by the existence of fetal homicide laws in every state (2).The contentious debate centers on the ...References1. Daniel H, Erickson SM, Bornstein SS; Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians. Women's health policy in the United States: an American College of Physicians position paper. Ann Intern Med. 2018;168:874-5. [PMID: 29809243]. doi:10.7326/M17-3344 LinkGoogle Scholar2. National Conference of State Legislatures. State laws on fetal homicide and penalty-enhancement against pregnant women. 1 May 2018. Accessed at www.ncsl.org/research/health/fetal-homicide-state-laws.aspx#State%20Laws on 13 January 2019. Google Scholar3. Brief of Amici Curiae American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association in support of plaintiffs-appellees-cross-appellants and in support of affirmance. No. 14-50928. 2014. Accessed at www.reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/2014-12-01%20-XX-%20Amicus%20Brief–ACOG%20and%20AMA.PDF on 2 June 2018. Google Scholar4. Americans United for Life. UNSAFE: How the Public Health Crisis in America's Abortion Clinics Endangers Women. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: Americans United for Life; 2018. Google Scholar5. Texas Department of State Health Services. Request for inspection of Whole Women's Health Beaumont. Statement of deficiencies. 30 October 2013. Accessed at http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/kbmt/CLINIC-REPORT.PDF on 13 January 2019. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio (P.M.S.)Disclosures: The author has disclosed no conflicts of interest. The form can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L18-0626. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoWomen's Health Policy in the United States: An American College of Physicians Position Paper Hilary Daniel , Shari M. Erickson , Sue S. Bornstein , and Women's Health Policy in the United States David Carl Houghton Women's Health Policy in the United States Hilary Daniel , Shari M. Erickson , and Sue S. Bornstein Metrics 19 February 2019Volume 170, Issue 4Page: 280-281KeywordsDisclosureEmbryologyFetusesHomicideLegislationObstetrics and gynecologyPregnancyResidencySafetySepsis ePublished: 19 February 2019 Issue Published: 19 February 2019 PDF downloadLoading ...