Today we are living in a country in which more than 59 million people voted for a man who ridicules women, belittles racial and ethnic minorities, and threatens long-standing partners across the world. That is shocking in so many ways.
I have spent the past 30 years working toward ensuring that people can have the families that they want to have. That sounds like such a simple mission, but it is fraught with challenges from those who believe that the rights of those who can become pregnant should be subjugated to the “rights” of those not yet born. We have been fighting a war in this country for a very long time now and there have been victories on both sides, but yesterday was a huge loss.
Despite this loss, we are not powerless. All of us who work for Medical Students for Choice and all our members and alumni can and will provide the care that those who celebrate their victory today will attempt to deny. Looking forward, here are a few thoughts to consider:
- We may lose legal abortion in parts of the US over the next several years. Well-trained abortion providers will be needed more than ever to care for women suffering from unsafe abortion.
- Doctors will continue to be powerful advocates for their patients and your voices will be more important than ever.
- All the skills that medical students learn at MSFC workshops, such as manual vacuum aspiration, will be skills that you may need to save the lives of your patients.
The Medical Students for Choice community will be gathering together in Phoenix, Arizona on December 3rd and 4th. If you hadn’t planned to join us, please consider joining us now! Contact meetings@msfc.org for more information. With 205 chapters in 32 countries, with thousands of alumni in communities throughout the US, Canada, and beyond, MSFC’s work is more important today than it has ever been. I am thankful for your courage, your passion, and your commitment…NOW MORE THAN EVER!
Lois Backus
Executive Director of Medical Students for Choice
