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Concerned About Roe v Wade: Take Action…There is Something You Can Do Now! Right Now!
May 10, 2022
Author: ASRM
Published in: ASRM Announcement
The Concern
Like you, ASRM is extremely concerned over the probable decision from the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and its impact on the reproductive medical field, the impact to our members’ livelihoods, and the impact on access to safe medical care for patients. The clearest danger is the ambiguity about the legal status of in-vitro fertilized eggs.
Our Position
ASRM is opposed to any policy that takes away any person’s right to access all forms of reproductive care, and we are especially concerned that this could have repercussions on our members’ ability to safely perform IVF and any other infertility treatment or procedure in accordance with best medical practices. We believe that health care decisions, particularly on reproductive matters, need to be the purview of patients and their physicians, not politicians.
What We’ve Done
ASRM is moving quickly to create and share information about how this decision will impact our members and their patients.
To date ASRM has:
- Joined five amicus briefs
- Written 19 letters specifically opposing abortion restrictions
- Signed on to 16 letters in support of expanding access to care
- Coordinated with multiple ASMR members to testify before their state legislators supporting ASRM’s stance on various bills
Click here to view the ASRM Advocacy Activities Report.
How Can ASRM Members Help to Advocate for Themselves and Their Professions?
In recent years, we have witnessed new challenges to our mission: misconceptions about the disease of infertility persist; unwarranted regulations of the practice of reproductive medicine are proposed; restrictions on third-party reproduction and compensation to egg or sperm donors are debated; and attempts have been made to define a fertilized egg as a person. All of these threats serve to illustrate the importance of our members becoming more actively involved in protecting the field of reproductive medicine.
While the reality is that there is not much we can do today to change this decision, we can arm ourselves for future protections on both the state and federal level. If Roe v Wade is revoked, it will set the stage for states to legislate in this area. You need to be prepared to get involved to advocate in your state.
Here’s how:
Prepare, then take action:
- Know your organizations and their issues
- Know your issues and stay informed
- If you can, register to vote and vote in every election!
- Give time or money to campaigns that are important to you and your issues
- Contact your elected officials and maintain a relationship with their offices
- Speak out in your communities about issues that impact your patients
Talk to your Legislators!
State level: This toolkit provides you with a process for how to advocate for your yourself and your patients on the state level.
Posting on social media is great but calling or meeting with your legislators is most effective. You can find your legislators’ information here.
Don’t know what to say? Use this sample script as a guide:
"Hello, my name is [x], and I'm calling from [my town]. I'm calling in opposition/support of Bill Number XX." You can feel free to end here and just give your phone number! OR! You can give a sentence or two in explanation of why you oppose or support the bill:
"I am a [reproductive endocrinologist] and I oppose any bill that would interfere with my ability to provide the best course of care for my patients. My phone number 555-555-5555. Thank you so much."
Donate to the Reproductive Care Protection Fund
There is much more work to be done, and to obtain additional needed tools, we need your support.ASRM has already dedicated a significant amount of money to a fund we are calling the Reproductive Care Protection Fund. But additional resources are needed.
Specifically, this fund will allow us to:
- Hire lobbyists in key states
- We’ve already hired someone in Indiana, which will be the first state to have a special legislative session since the Dobbs decision came down.
- Pay for thorough legal analysis of proposed bills and develop alternative language when needed
- Pay for Public Relations help in delivering and crafting messages
- Craft and place advertisements in states where the issue will be decided via ballot measures (i.e. Kansas 2022 and potentially Pennsylvania 2023)
Join us in the effort to ensure you can continue provide the care your patients need!
ASRM Announcements contain information of interest to members about ASRM and its affiliates, NIH, FDA, WHO, or CDC matters.
