Reproductive rights remain a key part of family planning. The team at Seattle Reproductive Medicine takes considerable pride in our focus on assuring that full access to all technologies continues to be available to all of our patients. The current culture regarding reproductive rights and changes on the horizon in some areas do require our attention and offers an opportunity to re-state what we at SRM see as our responsibilities to our patients.
The recent Supreme Court decision regarding Roe V Wade has shifted decision-making from a federal to a state level. In other words, each state is now permitted to legislate abortion laws and expand, restrict, or eliminate reproductive options resulting in a patchwork of what is and is not permitted. In Washington state, the environment is relatively sheltered. In fact, our governor’s recent statement was explicit in assuring that full access to all reproductive services would be protected.
SRM will continue to care for our patients now as before this decision. We are clearly in uncharted waters as we focus our efforts at both state and federal levels to replace R v W protections with new mandates. Be assured that we will continue to work at both local and national levels to offer insight, guidance, and support to assure that reproductive rights for all will be maintained and available.
Resource Links:
- ASRM resource page
lots of info and action items included in this page - Resolve.org – Understanding IVF Access in a post Roe v Wade World
- Resolve.org Statement on Supreme Court Decision Dobbs vs Jackson
- ASRM Today Podcast – The Dobbs Decision
- ASRM Today Podcast – State Abortion Trigger Laws: Potential Implications for Reproductive Medicine
SRM’s Roe v Wade Statement June 24, 2022
The recent Supreme Court ruling eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion has triggered concerns in our community and how it could impact overall reproductive rights, existing inequalities and healthcare disparity, and access to reproductive care.
SRM believes that all health care decisions should be made by patients and their providers alone. SRM supports the availability of reproductive health services for all patients and continue to stand with ASRM’s statement on the impact of reproductive care worldwide.
Currently, there are no laws in the State of Washington limiting reproductive rights, hence there are no changes to SRM’s policies and services. However, SRM believes that everyone has the right to their own reproductive healthcare decisions and will join in the efforts to ensure access to reproductive care is available for the community.
Here is ASRM’s statement:
A letter from Marcelle Cedars, MD, ASRM President:
The words, “Roe is overturned,” while expected, is nevertheless jarring. This decision removes an essential civil liberty that Americans have relied upon for nearly 50 years, one that is well-grounded in the history and best traditions of our country.
The idea that patients’ decisions about their own reproductive health—whether, when, with whom or if, to have a child, are subject to the whims of politicians, and a vocal minority, is unacceptable. Likewise, the ability of physicians to treat their patients using the latest and best, evidence-guided practices and techniques should not be curtailed by elected officials, or un-elected judges.
Decisions about healthcare, particularly reproductive healthcare, should be made by patients and physicians, not by interest groups, religious organizations, politicians, pundits, or Supreme Court Justices.
To our members and their patients, I would say this: this decision is the beginning, not the end of a struggle to protect reproductive autonomy. We will fight this battle in every state capital and in the halls of Congress. We will not rest until every physician is able to provide every one of their patients with the individualized care they need and deserve, even in the face of a powerful minority seeking to impose their own religious or political views. But make no mistake about it, we will need each and every one of you to be fully engaged in the battles ahead. Now is not the time to be a spectator and think someone else will fight this fight. Now is not the time to think, “my state won’t restrict my ability to help my patients,” now is not the time to think, “there is nothing I can do.”
Now is the time to join in our efforts to ensure every patient who needs reproductive care, throughout the reproductive health continuum, has access to build the family they want.
