AMA adopts policy declaring government intrusion to medicine a violation of human rights
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Government intrusion into medicine that hinders access to safe, evidence-based reproductive health services — such as abortion and contraception — is a violation of human rights, according to the AMA.
The organization adopted a policy during its House of Delegates meeting to bolster its opposition to the criminalization of reproductive health services.
AMA incoming president Jack Resneck Jr., MD, said in a press release that “a growing number of current and pending laws insert government into the patient-physician relationship by dictating limits or bans on reproductive health services and criminally punish or penalize patients for their health decisions.”
The AMA’s response to the increasing threat of “over-policing and surveillance of reproductive health services,” will be to “seek expanded legal protections for patients and physicians against government systems of control and punishment that criminalize reproductive health services,” according to the organization.
“The new policy also calls for AMA to seek legal protections for patients who cross state lines to receive reproductive health services, as well as legal protections for physicians and others who support or provide reproductive health services or referrals to patients who cross state lines,” Resneck said in the release.
The policy builds on the AMA’s position against “political intrusions into the practice of medicine” that compromise access to safe, evidence-based care. Additionally, the release states that the AMA “will continue to challenge criminal or civil penalties on patients who receive reproductive health services, as well as physicians, other health professionals, health systems, and patient advocates for aiding, assisting, supporting, or providing reproductive health services or referrals to patients.”
Reference:
- AMA bolsters opposition to wider criminalization of reproductive health. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-bolsters-opposition-wider-criminalization-reproductive-health. Published June 14, 2022. Accessed Jun 14, 2022.
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