Survey: Physicians Are Far Less Likely to Abort Their Children

A recent survey published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology and covered by MedPage Today had an intriguing finding:

Among physicians of reproductive age (45 years or younger), the abortion rate was 10.2%, said researchers led by Morgan Levy, BS, of the University of Miami School of Medicine, and colleagues.

Levy said these findings show that abortion is common among physicians, albeit slightly less common than in the general population, as previous studies estimated that the abortion rate among reproductive-age women was 23.7%.

Let’s correct the spin first. Abortion is less than half as common among doctors (not “slightly”). We see your attempt to normalize killing, MedPage.

Why are physicians and their partners so unlikely to abort? After all, we’re constantly told that people need abortion to ensure career success. Viewed in the light of the prevailing pro-abortion narrative, it’s a counterintuitive result.

The question merits further study. Three possible reasons come readily to mind.

First, physicians are wealthier than the general population. It’s well-established that most abortions are committed under financial pressure, leaving low-income babies at higher risk. Although this is likely a contributing factor, it fails as a complete explanation. Physicians are not necessarily well-off during all their reproductive years. Time spent in medical school and residencies delays earning potential.

Second, physicians are highly educated about methods to prevent pregnancy. One would hope, anyway! This hypothesis has the benefit of encompassing earlier years. A downside is that it fails to account for an odd finding: the female partners of male physicians had a lower abortion rate (7.5%) than female physicians themselves. That could be a quirk of small sample size, though.

Third, physicians are better educated about prenatal development and abortion risks. Only 14% of ob/gyns commit abortions, and that may carry over into their personal lives.

All three causes, and others I didn’t think of, could be at play. Bottom line: the medical profession should be about healing, not killing. And if you are pregnant and considering abortion, bear in mind that about the overwhelming majority of physicians do not choose abortion for themselves or their partners. If it isn’t good enough for them, why accept it for yourself? You deserve better.

[Photo credit: National Cancer Institute on Unsplash]