In January 1997, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a formal policy statement developed by a "select committee" dignifying the Partial Birth Abortion (PBA) procedure with a medical name, the "intact dilatation and extraction" or "intact D&X" (although even casual observation would suggest that a baby with its brain evacuated is hardly "intact".) In addition, ACOG medically validated the procedure by claiming that it "may be the best or most appropriate procedure in a particular circumstance to save the life or preserve the health of a woman" - a fairly bold assertion in the face of zero peer reviewed safety data on a procedure involving overtly dangerous obstetrical techniques on a mid-trimester uterus over a period of two-to-three days.
This Policy Statement on a major moral and medical question of our day was released only to District Chairs, with instructions to be distributed as they see "fit." Although ACOG usually mails all information to its entire membership, apparently they did not consider this subject worthy of such distribution.
To reacquaint you with the Partial Abortion Ban legislation, here are the specifics. The procedure, as defined in current legislation, must include the following:
- This is a physician initiated, purposeful termination of a live
pregnancy (as distinguished from an emergency situation one may
encounter, in which the physician is free to do what he/she must to save
the mother's life.)
- Deliberate dilatation of the cervix, usually with laminaria, usually
over a period of 48 hours.
- Internal version, usually instrumental, to footling breech
presentation.
- Breech extraction of the body, excepting the head.
- Sharp transvaginal craniotomy, followed by partial evacuation of
brain with resulting head decompression, to effect vaginal delivery of a
dead, but otherwise intact fetus.
- The legislation allows the procedure if it is necessary to save the life of the mother.
In 1996, when ACOG officially opposed the Federal Partial Birth Abortion Ban legislation, AAPLOG wrote a strong letter of protest to ACOG. PBA Ban will once again be a national issue this legislative year.