ACOG, Partners Call for Withdrawal of Recent Executive Orders

ACOG, along with 17 organizations together representing the nation’s leading professional medical organizations in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, wrote to the White House urging immediate rescindment of two recent Executive Orders: Executive Order 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, and Executive Order 13952, Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children.

Regarding Executive Order 13950, ACOG and partners affirmed our commitment to combat racism and racial bias in medicine. This commitment requires an honest evaluation of our own biases, a dedication to dismantling systemic and institutional racism that is pervasive in our country’s health care institutions, and an obligation to embracing the conduct of research, publications, presentations, and other types of programming that incorporate an anti-racism framework. Efforts to interfere with this work are unacceptable.

Specific to Executive Order 13952, the signers expressed serious concern for the impacts it may have on the individuals and families for whom we care. The letter stated unequivocally that policy related to reproductive health care must be based on medical science and facts. Compassionate, evidence-based care provided by obstetrician-gynecologists and other women’s health medical professionals should never be subject to politicians’ personal ideologies, especially when they are not based in science.

ACOG will continue to closely monitor these and other Executive Orders and their impact on obstetrician-gynecologists and their patients.