ACOG Responds to Texas Abortion Ban Taking Effect and How You Can Get Involved

On September 1, a Texas law (SB8) outlawing virtually all abortions and related information and support went into effect. SB8 creates a coercive environment for patients and clinicians across the spectrum of care and is an attack on our members, our patients, and the medical profession.

In a joint statement, Maureen G. Phipps, MD, MPH, FACOG, ACOG chief executive officer ACOG and Eugene Toy, MD, FACOG, chair of ACOG District XI (Texas), stated, “By allowing third-party lawsuits against clinicians, by virtually banning all abortions, and by curtailing the sharing of information and support related to access to vital women’s health care, Texas’s new law creates a coercive environment for patients and clinicians across the spectrum of care and from all corners of the state.” You can read ACOG’s full statement.

What Is Next?

This situation is rapidly evolving and ACOG is working to provide resources and support to our members in Texas and across the country. ACOG also remains steadfast in our commitment to advocating at all levels for our members’ ability to provide quality patient care and medical counsel, free from interference or threat of retribution. Texas is not the only state facing grave restrictions to the patient-physician relationship, and ACOG continues to engage in robust advocacy efforts in the courts, state legislatures, Congress, and the executive branch to protect access to comprehensive, evidence-based reproductive health care, regardless of a person’s zip code. We are also ready to assist you—and empower your voice—with information and tools to engage in these efforts.

How Can You Get Involved?

Find Resources and Connect

• ACOG’s Policy Priorities page is your one-stop-shop for advocacy resources and ACOG policies related to abortion access.
• ACOG Spontaneous and Induced Abortion Resource Center is a member portal for questions about spontaneous or induced abortion, such as reimbursement issues, patient materials, and clinical questions. ACOG members can receive an expert response free of charge by submitting your questions online.
• Information for Patients Seeking Abortion Care Resource Digest: A guide compiled by the ACOG Implementing Progress in Abortion Care and Training (IMPACT) Program to help clinicians identify resources available for patients.
• ACOG Section and District leadership, in partnership with ACOG National, are using every channel to speak out for their patients and the integrity of our medical profession at the local level. To connect with your Section and District legislative chairs and other ways to plug into advocacy efforts in your state, contact ACOG’s State Government Affairs team at [email protected].
• Keep up to speed on developments by reading ACOG Rounds, in your inbox every Friday. Not getting Rounds? Check your email preferences in the MyACOG section of the ACOG website.

Make Your Voice Heard

• Share your story: To help us highlight the voices of obstetrician-gynecologists across the country, we encourage you to share a personal perspective demonstrating the urgent need to protect access to care and cease political interference in the patient-physician relationship.  
• Call on Congress to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would establish federal protections safeguarding clinicians and patients from state restrictions on medically appropriate care.
• Spread the word: Follow @ACOGAction on Twitter and @acog_org on Instagram for additional updates on ACOG’s advocacy and join the conversation on social media.
  • Sample tweet: No health care provider should face the threat of a lawsuit or retribution for providing evidence-based abortion care, information, and support. Read @ACOGAction's full statement on #SB8 here: https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2021/09/statement-on-texas-sb8

In these challenging times, your expert voice and partnership with ACOG is valued and more important than ever. ACOG will continue providing updates on SB8 and other policies impacting physician practice and patient care.