Midwives Safeguarding Abortion Access: Establishing Medication Abortion Services
Author Department
Ob/Gyn; Patient Care Services
Document Type
Article, Peer-reviewed
Publication Date
9-2023
Abstract
The abortion access landscape for patients has changed dramatically in the wake of the US Supreme Court Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in June of 2022. In response, the Division of Midwifery at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, began a medication abortion service for both established patients and those who may seek care from out of state. This service increases access to abortion care now while also providing the clinical experience needed for student nurse-midwives to become future abortion providers. This article outlines the steps taken to implement a medication abortion service and ways it can be adopted by other midwifery practices. Strategies to address possible clinical, administrative, and logistical challenges are addressed. Finally, this article is a call to action because midwives are well qualified to provide high quality, safe, and comprehensive medication abortion within the midwifery model of care.
Keywords: health equity; induced abortion; medical abortion; midwifery education; reproductive justice; scope of practice.
Recommended Citation
Weintraub SA, Versace A, Winston L, Graff B, Kattan D. Midwives Safeguarding Abortion Access: Establishing Medication Abortion Services. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2023 Sep 14. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13556. Epub ahead of print.
PMID
37708214