Dear Members,
On Friday, June 24th, The Supreme Court of the United States of America overturned the landmark decision of Roe versus Wade, a precedent that guaranteed women’s rights to privacy, protection of their own health decisions, and the right to essential reproductive care, including abortion.
This decision is deeply disturbing and opens a path to weaken human rights and protections for all of us. The rights of women, trans men, and children to make deeply personal decisions regarding their health and well-being have been abolished. Access to the best evidence-based treatment for reproductive health and contraception are at risk. There will be an increase in illegal abortions with devastating complications. People will die. The ban on abortion will have a larger impact on the most vulnerable, who already experience racism and lack of access to health care, furthering disparity in health and social well-being.
Evidence-based reproductive care, including abortion, is a human right. In Canada, there is reasonable access to safe and publicly-funded abortion and reproductive care. On June 24th, we saw how fragile these basic human rights can be. We must protect everyone’s right to safe, accessible, and equitable health care.
The Alberta College of Family Physicians stand in solidarity with statements issued by fellow provincial partners, the Alberta Medical Association and the Women’s Health Coalition of Alberta, and we will continue to work with them in advocating for safe, accessible, and equitable reproductive health care and procedures. Abortion resources for family physicians can be found here.
On behalf of the Alberta College of Family Physicians Board of Directors,
Sudha Koppula, BSc, MD, MClSc, CCFP, FCFP President, Alberta College of Family Physicians
