{"id":221984,"date":"2020-04-16T14:26:51","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T19:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=221984"},"modified":"2020-04-16T14:26:51","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T19:26:51","slug":"governor-alaska-surgical-abortion-nonessential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/governor-alaska-surgical-abortion-nonessential\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor of Alaska declares surgical abortion ‘nonessential’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On April 7th, Alaskan Governor Mike Dunleavy released a COVID-19 update<\/a> expanding on the medical procedures to be postponed in the state in an effort to save personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers dealing with the virus. Included in this mandate<\/a> is the restriction of surgical abortions, among other nonessential surgeries. The update states, “Healthcare providers are to postpone surgical abortion procedures unless the life or physical health of the mother is endangered by continuation of the pregnancy during the period of postponement.”<\/p>\n

Declaring surgical abortion a “nonessential” surgery has angered many<\/a>. According to the Associated Press<\/a>, Jessica Cher, Alaska’s state director for Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii said that abortion is an “essential, time-sensitive medical procedure.” She went on to say, “It is shameful to see elected officials exploit a public health crisis to score political points and restrict abortion access.”<\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0Protecting the weakest: These states demand an end to surgical abortions during the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

However, over 30,000 obstetricians and gynecologists<\/a>\u00a0have stated that abortion is not medically necessary, and therefore, should not be allowed during a global pandemic. The American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG)\u00a0explained<\/a>,\u00a0“Continuing to perform elective abortions during a pandemic is medically\u00a0irresponsible. Abortions use up much needed resources such as masks, gloves, and other personal\u00a0protective equipment. The practice also potentially generates more patients to be seen in already\u00a0overburdened emergency rooms.”<\/p>\n

Beyond adding to the shortage of PPE, as AAPLOG stated, abortion also places a heavier burden on hospitals when it comes to abortion complications. AAPLOG noted:<\/p>\n

Approximately 5% of women who undergo medication abortions will\u00a0require evaluation in the hospital, most commonly for hemorrhage. Uterine perforation and\u00a0hemorrhage can occur with surgical abortions. Because most abortion providers do not manage their\u00a0own complications, instead instructing women to go to an ER if they have problems, emergency rooms\u00a0who are already struggling to keep up with the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to need to provide\u00a0care to these women. Our nation faces a critical blood shortage during this time, which will also\u00a0negatively impact women\u2019s health who experience abortion-related hemorrhage.<\/em><\/p>\n

As many have noted in the past, abortion — defined as the intentional<\/em> killing of a human in the womb — is never truly medically necessary.<\/p>\n