Ohio Section
66 East Lynn Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 621-2000

December 9, 2016
The Honorable John Kasich, Governor
State of Ohio
77 South High Street, 30th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Re: SB127 - Prohibit abortion-gestational age 20 weeks or more
Dear Governor Kasich:
On behalf of the Ohio Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG), which represents over 1500 obstetricians and gynecologists who practice in Ohio and
the women they serve, we write to share concerns regarding SB127 to prohibit abortiongestational age 20 weeks or more.
ACOG recognizes that the abortion issue debate comes from profound moral conviction from all
perspectives. While we respect the need of our members to determine their own personal
values and beliefs, we believe termination of pregnancy is a medical matter between the patient
and her physician, subject to the physician’s clinical judgment and the patient’s informed
consent.
ACOG is committed to ensuring optimal women’s health and is opposed to legislative proposals
that limit women’s access to medical care. ACOG supports women’s access to all legal medical
care, including family planning, contraception, and pregnancy outcome determinations.
It is critical for government to refrain from regulations that come between a patient and her
physician. The provision of medical care, whether involving physical conditions or mental illness,
must be a matter determined by the patient and her physician; interference in the physicianpatient relationship should not be taken lightly. Medical situations are never one-size fits all;
every woman’s circumstance is unique, so her physician needs to be able to provide guidance
that is relevant, appropriate and in their best medical judgment; and the patient needs to be
able to trust that her physician is providing appropriate counsel.

 A great number of pregnancy terminations beyond 20 weeks are due to identification of serious
and fatal birth defects in otherwise highly desired pregnancies. Continuation of these
pregnancies would result in certain death of the baby and expose the newborn to needless
pain. Meanwhile the mother is forced to carry the fetus to term and may be exposed to a
myriad of medical and reproductive risks.
Finally, SB127 places physicians in a precarious situation by criminalizing a medical procedure
recognized by ACOG as “standard of care” for women found to have medical indication for
termination of pregnancy. By not providing the “standard of care,” physicians are vulnerable to
civil litigation from patients; however, if they are to provide said care, they are open to criminal
prosecution from the State. Ohio physicians should be able to practice medicine as their training
and experience dictate; health care providers have a professional and ethical obligation to
provide care that is evidence-based, safe, individualized, and medically-appropriate.
We appreciate the opportunity to share our concerns with you and if you have any questions or
concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Wayne Trout, MD
Chair, Ohio Section

Amy Burkett, MD
Vice & Legislative Chair, Ohio Section

cc:

Members of the Ohio General Assembly
Dee Smith, Pappas & Associates