SPOTLIGHT ON ABORTION CARE & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
Speaking Truth to Power, Lifting Voices for Reproductive Freedom
Written by Becky Martin, AMSA Senior Manager of Reproductive Health Advocacy
and Aliye Runyan, MD, AMSA Reproductive Health Strategist
To paraphrase an old saying: evil thrives when good people do or say nothing. Doing and saying nothing has never been AMSA’s approach. Rather, AMSA strives to embody the sage words of civil rights freedom fighter and former U.S. House Representative John Lewis, may he rest in power:
When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up.
You have to say something; you have to do something.
You must find a way to get in the way and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.
Last year at our Future Physicians for Change 2023 conference, as we approached the 1-year mark of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Dr. Kristyn Brandi (then the Darney-Landy Fellow at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Immediate Past Board Chair, Physicians for Reproductive Health) gave an inspiring and thought-provoking keynote address: Following the Oath or the Law: Teaching Civil Disobedience in Medical Training.
This year, in what PBS NewsHour recently called “the most consequential election for reproductive rights in 50 years” (see NEWS link below) the AMSA Reproductive Health Project is proud to bring another innovative voice calling for reproductive freedom and justice for all as a keynote speaker at Future Physicians for Change 2024 in Washington DC:
Loretta Ross, co-creator of the theory of Reproductive Justice, 2022 MacArthur Fellow, and Professor at Smith College where she teaches courses on white supremacy, human rights, and Calling In the Call Out culture, will join us in Washington DC to give a keynote address at FP4Change2024.
As we approach another year without federal protection for abortion rights in the U.S, lifting voices speaking truth to power, along with those of allies advocating for comprehensive reproductive health care, including legal, safe, voluntary abortions for all who need them (regardless of how much they earn, who they work for, or what state they live in) and connecting them with future physicians is critically important if we are to turn the tide on rising U.S. maternal mortality and morbidity rates exacerbated by abortion bans, reclaim the right to abortion care, and ensure reproductive freedom and justice for all.
Voices willing to speak truth to power in the face of growing threats to our democracy are also vitally important as we move deeper into our post-Roe reality. As reported in Health Affairs: Democracies [are] Linked To Greater Universal Health Coverage Compared With Autocracies, Even In An Economic Recession. Countries with universal health care also have far lower maternal and infant mortality rates, and higher life expectancy rates than we do in the U.S. These are true, but far too little known, facts. Lack of wide understanding of these facts by many Americans, including many elected officials who are crafting and funding our health care policies, does not make them untrue despite what many might choose to believe. With truth as our north star and understanding that there “aren’t two sides to facts” we commend to you this thought-provoking voice speaking truth to power: Our Trump reporting upsets some readers, but there aren’t two sides to facts: Letter from the Editor.
As always we welcome your thought and comments, please email rhp@amsa.org
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