In the fall of 1972, Matthew J. Bulfin, M.D., of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL., received two publications sent out by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to all its members: "Behavior Aspects of Abortion," extolling the concept of abortion on demand, and "The Management of Sexual Crises in the Female" advocating abortions for minors without parental consent. Thousands of obstetricians and gynecologists were disturbed by this drastic departure by the College from what had always been a joyous tradition: that of protecting and safeguarding both the mother and her unborn. The Supreme Court decision followed in January 1973. The College had laid the groundwork for abortion on demand.

The week after the Supreme Court decision, Dr. Bulfin made ten telephone calls to prominent obstetricians and gynecologists across the country to sound them out about the feasibility of a Pro Life group within the College. Nine of ten gave their enthusiastic support of the idea.

The late John G. Masterson, M.D., Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and well-respected in academic ranks, gave Dr. Bulfin his valuable expertise in getting the organization underway.

Thirty one obstetricians and gynecologists attended the founding meetings in Bal Harbour, FL. on April 21, 1973. Dr. William Lynch, of Boston, then Secretary of the New England OB/Gyn Society, was extremely helpful in formulating the Constitution and Bylaws.

Since the initial meeting in Bal Harbour, AAPLOG has met yearly, and has been formally recognized as a “Special Interest Group” of ACOG. Currently we sponsor an annual mid-winter continuing medical education meeting. We also host an educational booth at ACOG’s annual clinical meeting, APGO-CREOG’s annual meeting, and various other medical and pregnancy care center meetings.

The American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists has presented its Pro Life Award to President Ronald Reagan in 1989 and to Congressman Henry Hyde (R-IL) in 1993 for their efforts in the Pro Life arena. The Board of Directors, in 1994, approved the funding of the Matthew Bulfin Research Grant, an annual grant awarded to the best scientific project with respect for life and its origin.

In 1994, AAPLOG surveyed all obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States as to their position on abortion and the stance ACOG has taken on the issue. The results indicated 52% of the respondents opposed abortion on demand (as a form of birth control), and 61% thought ACOG should take a neutral or anti-abortion stance on the issue of abortion. In 1994, we also opposed an ACOG plan supporting non-physician abortion providers.

In 1995, we were successfully involved with the “House Committee on Education Oversight” in opposing the 1995 ACGME attempt to mandate that every OB/GYN resident be trained to perform elective abortions, and every training program to provide such training in order to remain accredited. The resulting federal legislation, “The Medical Training Nondiscrimination Act of 1995” protects the right of physicians to follow their own conscience on this issue, and rendered the ACGME’s mandated accreditation requirements unenforceable.

In 1996, when ACOG officially opposed federal Partial Birth Abortion (PBA) Ban legislation, we wrote a strong letter of protest to ACOG. We will be glad to send you, on request, a copy of our letter detailing our position and reasoning.

In 1997, we highlighted information regarding the still controversial Abortion-Breast Cancer link. We continue to explore data on this and other elective abortion complications.

Since the FDA approval of the abortifacient RU 486 (Mifeprex) in late 2000, we have been involved with filing and following up an extensive Citizens’ Petition challenging the FDA’s flawed approval process. Additionally, we have produced educational literature documenting the lax requirements of care surrounding use relative to the trials used to approve the drug and compared to other countries. We also continue to document and evaluate the reported adverse events and deaths associated with Mifeprex use.

Since the 2003 FDA hearing on possible OTC approval of Plan B for “emergency contraception” we have strongly opposed this approval on solid medical grounds. ACOG leadership has been a very committed supporter of OTC approval. We have written letters of objection to both ACOG and the FDA. In November, 2005, in cooperation with several other concerned groups, we submitted extensive legal and medical comments to the FDA opposing OTC status for Plan B or other “emergency contraceptives.”

Since 2004, we have encouraged members to write letters of support to their legislators to ban human cloning and embryonic stem cell research.

In 2004 and 2005, we have been actively involved defending our beliefs in Court: in the New Hampshire Parental Consent Case, the Washington euthanasia case, and challenges to the Weldon amendment in Washington DC and California. The Weldon Amendment is a 2004 law that protects the conscience rights of health care providers by denying federal money to institutions or organizations that require health care providers to perform or to refer patients to other providers for an abortion procedure.

In a direct assault on the Weldon Amendment, in August, 2005, the ACOG, in a letter to U.S. Senators requested that Federal legislation be changed so that “doctors with a moral objection to abortion" be required to refer the patient asking for abortion to a doctor who will do the procedure. AAPLOG is vigorously protesting this attempt to use federal legislation to force pro-life doctors to violate their conscience by requiring them to be complicit in the abortion procedure in this way.

In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court will again consider challenges to the legislation banning Partial Birth Abortion. AAPLOG will be actively participating in developing an amicus curiae in support of the ban.

AAPLOG will continue to be the voice of Obstetricians and Gynecologists whose respect for life is their obvious choice.

Life.
It's why we're here.