Obstetrician Opinions of a 2012 Georgia Law Limiting Late Second-Trimester Abortions [208]

• Published in: Obstetrics and gynecology (New York. 1953) Vol. 125 Suppl 1; no. Supplement 1; p. 68S
• Main Authors: Pasteur, Nicole Marie, Haddad, Lisa, Lathrop, Eva Hamilton, Rochat, Roger William
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01.05.2015
• ISSN: 0029-7844; 1873-233X
• DOI: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000463112.25183.65

INTRODUCTION:A law was passed in Georgia that limits abortions in pregnancies beyond 20 weeks of gestation called House Bill 954. This study was performed to understand Georgia obstetriciansʼ opinions of and reactions to the new law. METHODS:A sample of practicing obstetricians in Georgia completed a survey either online or at a professional conference. The questions involved interpretation and opinion of the law as well as medical conditions they deemed to be exceptions to the law. Patient scenarios were presented and respondents were asked about current management and how this would change if the law goes into effect. RESULTS:Seventy surveys were analyzed. A total of 76.2% of obstetricians believe the law will negatively affect their patients. There was no consensus on which scenarios constitute an exception to the law. A total of 42.9% felt the law would decrease their desire to practice obstetrics in Georgia. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS:Obstetricians across the state have varying interpretations of a new law limiting abortions. They anticipate that their management of patients will change and that the law will negatively affect their patients. Similar laws have been passed or are being proposed in other states. These laws will increase barriers to abortion access and likely will have far-reaching negative consequences for womenʼs health that were not fully anticipated during passage of such laws.