A recent educational gathering for pro-life medical practitioners featured the life-saving Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) protocol, along with the contentious abortion procedure it counteracts.
The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG) Matthew Bulfin Educational Conference brought together researchers, physicians, medical students and residents, nursing students, nurse midwives and policy makers; some 180 in-person and roughly 50 virtual attendees, from in and outside the U.S.
The conference convened in Nashville Feb. 25-17, where attendees heard about vital topics in life issues, including several sessions on reversal and chemical abortion.
Bulfin was AAPLOG’s founding physician and the conference was co-sponsored with the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds).
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Chemical abortion continues to escalate in and outside the U.S., comprising at least half of all U.S. abortions performed each year, probably more.
Likewise, awareness of Abortion Pill Reversal awareness is rising, but the treatment is often dismissed by abortion activists.
Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made availability of mail-order abortion pills permanent last December, pro-life advocates continue to sound the alarm about the implications for the safety of women. Without an in-person exam before proceeding with chemical abortion, they say, women face greater health risks.
Additionally, with the “DIY” nature of this approach to abortion and the likelihood that women will experience their abortion at home, they will potentially face any complications alone.
“AAPLOG is progressive in keeping their members informed about what affects the health of their patients,” said Christa Brown, director of Medical Impact for Heartbeat International, which manages the Abortion Pill Rescue® Network (APRN). “This includes the changes in how chemical abortion is being offered to women and the many consequences this is having in healthcare.”
“This conference was a voice of reason and hope for those that value the lives of both of their patients - moms and babies,” Brown said. “Members were able to learn more about chemical abortion and abortion pill reversal during general sessions and workshops alike.”
Chemical abortion involves two drugs, mifepristone, and misoprostol. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the natural hormone in a woman’s body which supports pregnancy. Misoprostol, taken a day or so later, causes the mother to go into labor and deliver her deceased child.
AAPLOG is the nation’s largest network of pro-life medical providers with thousands of members who seek to practice in accord with the Hippocratic Oath.
Membership is not limited to OB/GYNs, and includes the areas of family and maternal health, midwifery, and mental health.
At the 2022 conference the pro-life medical professionals and students heard from Stephen Sammut, PhD, psychology professor and researcher at Franciscan University of Steubenville, who spoke about a study he is conducting on chemical abortion reversal.
Dr. Christina Cirucci, aboard-certified OB/GYN practicing in Allegheny County, Pa., presented on how chemical abortion impacts clinical practice.
Dr. Dermot Kearney, a consultant cardiologist and internal medicine physician from the UK who was banned from provider Abortion Pill Reversal there for nine months following complaints from abortion providers and activists, traveled from England to share his story of providing APR and overcoming the false charges.
Dr. Donna Harrison, CEO for AAPLOG, described for Pregnancy Help News the significance and history of APR within the pro-life medical association.
“AAPLOG has been completely supportive of APR, as it is both logically obvious and medically sound,” Harrison said.
“AAPLOG members have testified in defense of numerous state laws regarding APR, both at the legislative level, as well as defending in court challenges,” she said. “We even have a webpage with video of APR myths and facts done by AAPLOG Board Chair) Dr. Christina Francis.”
The idea for APR came from three AAPLOG members, Harrison explained, Dr. George Delgado, Dr. Mary Davenport, and Dr. Matthew Harrison. Dr.'s Davenport and Delgado were on the AAPLOG board at the time of development. Shortly before they started, AAPLOG had a presentation at its national conference on the mechanism of action of mifepristone.
Heartbeat International President Jor-El Godsey remarked about AAPLOG’s work to be a voice for life in the medical field.
“AAPLOG is the antidote to the abortion bias embedded in the medical community,” Godsey told Pregnancy Help News. “The AAPLOG conference is a wealth of information and a powerful community of practitioners championing life-affirming healthcare.”
Heartbeat International’s Abortion Pill Rescue Network was on hand for the 2022 conference to help educate attendees on Abortion Pill Reversal.
“For those who already care for women during pregnancy, prescribing progesterone for those with insufficient levels is not a novel concept,” Brown said. “If a natural hormone that is routinely and safely given in pregnancy can save a life, it's an exciting protocol to offer patients having regret after taking mifepristone.”
“The physicians, midwives, nurses, medical students and other healthcare providers at the conference embraced this concept and were welcomed to join the growing APR Network,” added Brown.
She was encouraged by the reception that APR had at the event.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm of the medical students to be a part of the network and their willingness to put their patients' choices and values ahead of other medical organizations who do not value life like AAPLOG does,” she said., adding, “The future of medicine looks bright with so many new physicians refusing to bow to organizations with radical political agendas and a desire to focus on true healthcare for their patients.”
Editor's note: Heartbeat International manages the Abortion Pill Rescue Network and Pregnancy Help News.
