OB-GYN Residency Programs Face Tough Choice on Abortion Training

New York Times (10/27/22) Hoffman, Jan

Abortion bans and accreditation mandates are placing residency programs for obstetricians and gynecologists in a difficult position. Last month, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) formally reaffirmed its requirement to include abortion training in OB-GYN residency curricula, with spokesman John Combes calling it "essential." Although the council said programs can uphold accreditation by having resident rotations in states with legalized abortion, some program directors fear legal pitfalls such as lawsuits, or charges of aiding and abetting. Some pro-life physicians groups argue that miscarriage management training is sufficient for learning uterus evacuation. An ACGME panel recently debated whether simulation modeling alone is tenable for residents unable to travel outside of states that prohibit abortions. Meanwhile, applications are surging into programs in states where abortion is legal, complicating entry for candidates.

Read More