House Republicans blasted the nation’s leading obstetrician-gynecologist association for canceling a speech by pro-life doctors at a recent conference, calling the move “hypocritical and outrageous.”
Five lawmakers, led by Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, called on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to “stop discriminating against pro-life doctors” after their conference was scheduled. pulled out at the last minute.
“The reported decision by ACOG — the organization that purports to represent all obstetrician-gynecologists — to exclude qualified maternal and child health professionals from speaking at its annual conference because of their pro-life positions is hypocritical and outrageous,” the Republicans said. in a statement on Friday.
The American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Pro-Life announced that it has reserved a booth at the annual CREOG & APGO 2023 event for the past 15 years a meetingbut last week after arriving in Maryland, the doctors were told their show had been canceled.
The conference for medical educators is hosted by the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Council on Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology, under the auspices of ACOG.
Representative Chip Roy of Texas, one of five Republicans, tweeted Friday that his office “will not meet with ACOG until they apologize to these doctors and commit to welcoming them to all future meetings.”
In its statement, ACOG did not directly address the repeal, but appeared to respond to criticism of abortion from pro-life doctors, including concerns about the health risks associated with the procedures.
“ACOG members are welcome to register and attend ACOG meetings,” ACOG said in an email Wednesday. “At the CREOG – APGO Annual Meeting, ACOG also welcomes exhibitors who share ACOG’s and APGO’s commitment to advancing evidence-based scientific information.”
“Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes: My office will not meet with ACOG until they apologize to these doctors and commit to welcoming them to all future meetings”
Representative Roy is leading his GOP colleagues after the medical organization canceled the pro-life speakers. MORE:https://t.co/njC73RTfpC
— Rep. Chip Roy (@RepChipRoy) March 3, 2023
ACOG politicians updated in May called abortion “an important component of comprehensive, evidence-based health care” and “strongly opposes any effort that impedes access to abortion care and interferes with the relationship between a person and their health care provider.”
The policy does not include any recommended restrictions on abortion, but emphasizes that the organization seeks to “oppose and reverse efforts that restrict access to abortion.”
Republicans said that “ACOG has made no secret of its extreme abortion agenda.”
They said they would “press for immediate changes in this unacceptable behavior — whether that means holding ACOG accountable at meetings or withdrawing from meetings until they change course — and encourage other members to do the same.”
In addition to Mr. Smith and Mr. Roy, the lawmakers in the statement are Representatives Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee and Andy Harris of Maryland, who is also a physician.
Dr. Christina Francis, an OB/GYN practitioner in Indiana who leads AAPLOG, said women “deserve the best health care and the best information about it.”
“We will continue to provide this even as ACOG continues to try to silence anyone who disagrees with its political agenda,” Dr. Francis said.
